Native American Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grants

http://www.imls.gov/applicants/native_american_native_hawaiian_museum_guidelines.aspx
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Grants – FY12 Guidelines
Application Deadline: April 2, 2012
(Projects must begin October 1, November 1, or December 1, 2012)
Date Posted: January 17, 2012
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 45.308

Questions? See the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Web page
for IMLS contact info.
Teletype (TTY/TDD) (for persons with hearing difficulty): 202/653-4614
begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202/653-4614 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Upon request, IMLS will provide an audio recording of this or any other
publication.
Web Conferencing with Program Staff
IMLS staff are available by phone and through e-mail to discuss general issues
relating to Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants. We also
invite you to participate in one of two pre-application Web conferences to learn
more about the program, ask questions, and listen to the questions and
comments of other participants. See the Native American/Native Hawaiian
Museum Services Web page for date/time information.
Equal Opportunity
IMLS-funded programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, disability, or age. For further information, write to the Civil Rights
Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1800 M Street, NW, 9th Floor,
Washington, DC 20036-5802.

IMLS Information



About the Institute of
Museum and Library
Services



National Initiatives

Guideline Contents
1.

Program Information

2.

Eligibility

3.

Registration Requirements

4.

Preparing and Submitting an
Application

5.

After You Apply

Office of Management and Budget Clearance Numbers
Guidelines: OMB No. 3137-0029; Expiration Date: August 31, 2013.
Forms: OMB No. 3137-0071; Expiration Date: August 31, 2013.
How long should it take me to complete this application?
We estimate the average amount of time needed for one applicant to complete the narrative portion of this application
to be nine hours. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and writing and reviewing the answers.
We estimate that, in addition to the time needed for you to answer the narrative questions, it will take you an average
of 15 minutes per response for the Program information Sheet, 3 hours per response for the Detailed Budget and
Summary Budget, and 10 minutes per response for the Partnership Statement.
Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at 1800 M Street, NW, 9th
Floor, Washington, DC 20036-5802, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project
(3137-0029), Washington, DC 20503.

1. Program Information
What are Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum grants?
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (NANH) grants promote enhanced learning and innovation within
museums and museum-related organizations, such as cultural centers organized by Native American tribes and
organizations that primarily serve Native Hawaiians. Grants provide opportunities to sustain heritage, culture, and

knowledge through strengthened museum services in the areas of programming, professional development, and
enhancement of museum services.
What is the deadline for applying for a Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant?
The FY2012 deadline for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants is April 2, 2012.
What is the period of time in which my tribe or Native Hawaiian organization can conduct activities funded by
a FY12 Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant?
Projects must begin on October 1, November 1, or December 1, 2012. Projects must begin on the first day of the
month and end on the last day of the final month of the project. Generally, project activities supported by Native
American/Native Hawaiian Museum grants may be carried out for up to two years.
How much money can my institution apply for?
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum grant awards range from $5,000 to $50,000.
Do we have to provide funds from other sources in order to be eligible for a NLG grant?
Cost sharing is encouraged but not required for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services program.
Click here for further information on cost sharing.
What types of activities can be funded with a NANH grant?
You are required to focus your project activities within one of three categories: Programming, Professional
Development, or Enhancement of Museum Services.
Programming activities support the educational missions of museums and museum-related organizations, including
(but not limited to):







exhibits;
research and interpretation;
educational resources such as Web sites;
curricula, digital content, and publications; and
educational demonstrations and performances, including workshops, classes and presentations.

Professional Development activities support education or training that builds skills, knowledge, or other professional
capacity for individuals, either paid or volunteer, who provide or manage museum services. Activities include (but are
not limited to):







the creation and offering of courses and workshops (in-person or distance learning);
enrollment in courses and workshops (in-person or distance learning);
attendance at conferences or other professional meetings;
hiring of consultants or technical assistance to strengthen museum services and activities; and
organizational support for internships and fellowships.

Enhancement of Museum Services activities enable or improve museum services, including (but not limited to):






planning (strategic planning, policy development, disaster preparedness, and risk management);
equipment purchases, security, public access (construction projects are not allowed);
heritage preservation, including collections care, management, and conservation; and
hiring of temporary or permanent staff to support museum services.

How many applications can we submit to this program?
You may apply for and receive one NANH grant in a fiscal year.
Acknowledgement and Copyright/Work Products
Read more about Acknowledgement and Copyright/Work Products
What requirements govern the use of IMLS funds?
You may only use IMLS funds for allowable costs as found in IMLS and government-wide cost principle rules,
including OMB Circulars and regulations.
What expenses are allowable with NANH funds?
Examples of allowable expenses for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants include:

















project personnel (contract or in-house) whose time is necessary for the proper and efficient execution of the
project;
project consultants and their travel;
costs related to planning and maintenance of project partnerships;
purchase of equipment, materials, supplies, or services;
staff training;
program development and implementation;
exhibition design and fabrication (but see unallowable exhibit fabrication expenses below);
integration of technology into exhibition or educational programs;
evaluation to measure the extent to which the project has met its goals;
research;
planning and policy development;
publications;
indirect or overhead costs
activities aimed at achieving intellectual control over the collection, including: inventory, daily maintenance,
registration, planning, and cataloguing; and
collection conservation activities including the purchase of storage equipment (shelving, cabinets),
installation of HVAC systems, treatment of objects/specimens, or collections surveys.

You must justify all proposed expenses in your application budget.
What expenses are not allowable with NLG funds?
Examples of unallowable expenses for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants include:










general museum fundraising costs, such as development office expenditures or other staff time devoted to
general fundraising;
general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those
related to the specific project;
general museum operating support;
contributions to endowments;
acquisition of collections;
social activities, ceremonies, receptions, or entertainment;
construction and renovation of museum facilities;
exhibit fabrication that includes creation of large-scale permanent structures for animals or objects that
would involve contract labor of the construction trades;






installation or purchase of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment for an entire museum
building;
reconstruction or renovation of historic sites and landscapes;
replacement of architectural details for historical accuracy; and
pre-award costs.

(Note: Applicants with questions about the allowability or unallowability of specific activities should call IMLS staff for
guidance.)
Are Partnerships Required for NANH?
Partnerships may strengthen a Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services application, if they are
appropriate to the project, but they are not required. An application may include one or more partners. The lead
applicant in a partnership must be eligible to apply as an individual entity, and all members of a partnership should be
active contributors to project activities. Read more about partnerships.

2. Eligibility
Eligible applicants are




Indian tribes or
organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians.

For the purpose of funding under this program, "Indian tribe" means any tribe, band, nation, or other organized
group or community, including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or village corporation (as defined in, or
established pursuant to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. Section 1601 et seq.)), which is
recognized by the Secretary of the Interior as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United
States to Indians because of their status as Indians. A list of eligible entities is available from the Bureau of Indian
Affairs. The list does not include the recognized Alaska native villages, regional corporations, and village
corporations. Alaskan entities should refer to applicable provisions in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act,
referenced above.
For the purposes of funding under this program, "organizations that primarily serve and represent Native
Hawaiians" means any nonprofit organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians, as the term is
defined in 20 U.S.C. Section 7517.
We recognize the potential for valuable contributions to the overall goals of the Native American/Native Hawaiian
Museum Services program by entities that do not meet the eligibility requirements above. Although such entities may
not serve as the official applicants, they are encouraged to participate in projects as partners. Federally operated
libraries and museums may not apply for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants, but they
may serve as nonessential partners to applicants if they do not receive IMLS grant funds as a result of the project.
Contact us before submitting a proposal involving a federal agency or federal collection. Consult with us about any
eligibility questions before submitting an application.
Entities such as museums, libraries, schools, tribal colleges, or departments of education are not eligible for the
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grant program, although they may be involved in the
administration of this program and their staff may serve as project directors, in partnership with an eligible applicant.

3. Registration Requirements
Getting a D-U-N-S® Number
Read more about Getting a D-U-N-S® Number.
CCR Registration
Read more about CCR Registration.

Grants.gov Registration
Read more about Grants.gov Registration and Tips for Using Grants.gov.

4. Preparing and Submitting an Application
PLEASE REVIEW THESE GUIDELINES AND THE GRANTS.GOV REQUIREMENTS CAREFULLY. WE MAKE
GRANTS ONLY TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS THAT SUBMIT COMPLETE APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING
ATTACHMENTS, ON OR BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
For the FY12 Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants, Grants.gov will accept applications through
11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 2, 2012.
We strongly recommend that you REGISTER EARLY and COMPLETE AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION EARLY.
Apply for Grants: www.grants.gov/applicants/apply_for_grants.jsp
Use one of the following identifiers to locate the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services grants package
in Grants.gov:
CFDA No: 45.308
Funding Opportunity Number: NANH-FY12

What documents are required and how should they be completed, formatted, named, and sequenced?
Please see the Table of Application Components below. Links to more information and instructions for completing
forms are provided in the table. Applications missing any Required Documents or applicable Conditionally
Required Documents from this list will be considered incomplete and will be rejected from further
consideration.
You should also use this table to determine the format of each document, the name it must be given, and the
sequence in which the documents should be attached.
We will not accept file formats other than PDF and we will not convert files for you. For assistance in converting
documents to PDF, visit www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#pdf_conversion_programs. Also, please do not send
secured PDFs because we cannot process these files.

Please note that, aside from the first two documents listed, all documents must be submitted as PDF documents,
regardless of how they were created. Documents listed as IMLS forms are available in both Microsoft® Word
document and fill-in PDF formats, and are located on the IMLS Web site. If you do not have Adobe® Pro, we suggest
using the Word document to complete the forms. Remember, the Word version must later be converted to and
submitted as a PDF.
Be sure to note the maximum page limits for certain components. We will remove any pages above the limit, and we
will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.
Append all the documents to the attachments form in the sequence used in the Table of Application Components.
Use all the available spaces in the "Mandatory Documents for Submission" box first. If there are more attachments
than will fit there, use the "Optional Documents for Submission" box for the remaining ones, following the same
naming convention and submitting them one at a time.
You may use this table as a checklist to ensure that you have created and attached all the documents that may be
necessary for a complete application. We suggest assembling and uploading your documents in this sequence to
assist you in confirming the inclusion of all required materials.
Table of Application Components
Component

Format

File name to use

Required Documents
The Application for Federal Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF424S)

Grants.gov form

n/a

Abstract (to be uploaded through Grants.gov) (one page, max.)

Text document that you
create

n/a

Program Information Sheet

IMLS PDF form

Programinfo.pdf

Organizational Profile (one page, max.)

PDF document

Organizationalprofile.pdf

Narrative (five pages, max.)

PDF document

Narrative.pdf

Schedule of Completion (one page per year, max.)

PDF document

Scheduleofcompletion.pdf

Detailed Budget Form (by year, as appropriate)

IMLS PDF form

Detailedbudgetyear1.pdf
Detailedbudgetyear2.pdf
Detailedbudgetyear3.pdf

Summary Budget Form

IMLS PDF form

Summarybudget.pdf

Budget Justification (two pages, max.)

PDF document

Budgetjustification.pdf

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants (one page, max.)

PDF document

Projectstaff.pdf

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants that appear on the list above
(two pages each, max.)

PDF document

Resumes.pdf

Conditionally Required Documents
Proof of Nonprofit Status (if applicable)

PDF document

Proofnonprofit.pdf

Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

PDF document

Indirectcostrate.pdf

Partnership Statement Form(s) (if applicable)

IMLS PDF form

Partners.pdf

Specifications for Projects that Develop Digital Products Form (if
applicable)

IMLS PDF form

Specificationsdigital.pdf

Proof of Eligibility (for organizations that primarily serve and represent
Native Hawaiians)

PDF document

Proofeligibility.pdf

Supporting Documents
Information that supplements the narrative and supports the project
description provided in the application

PDF document

Supportingdoc1.pdf
Supportingdoc2.pdf
Supportingdoc3.pdf
etc.

Abstract
A project abstract should be no more than one page. Insert the text, which you generate through a word processing
program and save as a PDF, into the Abstract field in Grants.gov.
Information in the abstract should cover the following areas as related to the proposed project:






Who is the lead applicant and, if applicable, who are the formal partners?
What is the time frame for the project?
Who is the intended audience for the activities?
What will be the specific project activities, outcomes, and tangible products?



What are the intended outcomes for audience members in terms of measurable changes in knowledge,
skills, attitudes, or behavior?

This abstract may be used for public information purposes, so it should be informative to other persons working in the
same or related fields, as well as to the lay reader. The abstract must not include any proprietary or confidential
information.
Program Information Sheet
1. Applicant Information
a. Legal Name: Enter the legal name of the applicant.
b. and c. Organizational Unit and Address:
If the eligible entity cannot apply for grants on its own behalf, then enter the name and address of the entity in these
spaces. For example, if a museum or cultural center is part of a parent organization, such as a tribe, then the tribe
would be the legal applicant, and the museum or cultural center would be entered as the organizational unit. Be sure
to include the four-digit extension on the ZIP code.
d. Web Address: If an organizational unit is listed, enter its Web address here. If not, enter the Web site of the entity
listed under Legal Name in Section 1a above.
e. Type of Institution: Select the one that most accurately describes your organization.
2. Grant Program or Grant Program Category
Select one category listed under "k. Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Service"





Programming
Professional Development
Enhancement of Museum Services

3. Request Information
a. IMLS Funds Requested: Enter the amount in dollars sought from IMLS.
b. Enter the amount of non-federal funding you are providing. Cost sharing is encouraged but not required for the
Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services program. Read more about cost share.
4. Applicants for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services should skip this section.
5. Project Partners
In the space provided, list all organizations that are partners for the project. Note: Each partner listed in this section is
required to complete and submit a Partnership Statement form to the lead applicant for submission with the
application.
6. Native Hawaiian Organization Eligibility
Complete this section only if the applicant is an organization serving Native Hawaiians. If "yes" is selected, proof of
eligibility is required with submission of application—see section on Proof of Eligibility for details.
7–8. Applicants for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services should skip these sections.
Download Program Information Sheet:
Adobe® PDF (318 KB)
Microsoft® Word Document (118 KB)
Narrative

Write a narrative that addresses the four components listed and explained below. Limit the narrative to five singlespaced, numbered pages. We will remove any pages above the five-page limit, and we will not send them to
reviewers as part of your application.
Make sure your organization’s name appears at the top of each page. Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides and
a font size of at least twelve point. Use Supporting Documents to provide supplementary material.
Reviewers with a variety of professional backgrounds will read these applications and advise us on their merits. They
will base their evaluations on the information presented in the application. Your project narrative should therefore be
clear, concise, and well-organized with a minimum of technical jargon.
Review criteria are listed below for each section of the narrative. These criteria describe what the reviewers are
instructed to consider as they evaluate proposals. Keep these application review criteria in mind when writing your
narrative. Be certain to address the bullet points under each of the four narrative sections as you write. Address the
four sections of the narrative separately and in the same order in which they are listed below.
Please be advised that reviewers may also choose to visit your organization’s Web site, as listed on the SF-424S
form provided with this application.
1. Statement of Need

Provide a justification for the proposed project as it relates to the museum and the community. Include information
such as the following:






A description of the community to be served
Current activities of the museum or cultural center, if applicable
How the proposal will improve museum services
Impact on the community from improved museum services

Review Criteria:




Evidence that the applicant has performed a formal or informal assessment of community needs
Evidence that the project and its goals were developed as the best solution to address those needs

2. Impact

Describe the benefits of this project for the museum and/or community. Address issues such as the following:







Specific outcomes that will result from the project
Plans and methodology to measure the achievement of the project’s goals and objectives
How the project’s accomplishments, benefits, and changes will continue beyond the grant period
Evaluation methodology and its incorporation into the project design
The means by which project activities and results will be shared with various audiences (Many strategies
that apply to publicizing an award may be used to disseminate project news as well. See
http://www.imls.gov/recipients/grantee.aspx.)

Review Criteria:





Evidence that the project will create specific changes and benefits for the applicant, museum, and/or the
community served
Evidence that the applicant has plans to sustain those changes and benefits beyond the grant period
Evidence that the evaluation plan ties directly to the project goals and is appropriate in determining project
impact

Resources for Evaluating a Project’s Impact

Click here for helpful information about project evaluation.

3. Project Design

Describe the proposed project’s design. Include information such as the following:










Project goals and objectives
Scholarly and/or community involvement in content, planning, and execution
Action steps and activities to implement the project
Evidence that the applicant is capable of implementing the project plan
Methods to reach the intended audience(s)
Project management and the process for corrections and adjustments throughout the project
Specific exhibitions or collections impacted by the project (if applicable)
If the project involves collections, a description of the quantity and type of materials involved

Review Criteria:







Evidence that the project proposes efficient, effective, and reasonable approaches to accomplish its clear
goals and objectives
Extent to which the project allows for mid-course correction of project activities
Evidence this project will be promoted to the intended audience
If the project includes digitization, evidence that appropriate procedures will be followed
If the project includes an exhibition, evidence that the content, objects, and other applicable elements and
resources have been identified

4. Project Resources: Personnel, Time, Budget

Describe the resources, including those funded by the grant and those funded by the organization’s cost share,
required to implement and complete the project. Include information such as the following:








Identification of key project staff, their duties, and their qualifications for successfully completing their project
tasks
Identification of consultants and service providers involved in project activities, the process for selecting
them, and how they will work with project staff
A timeline for specific activities to implement the project and its justification
The amount of time that key project staff will devote to the project and how they will balance project
responsibilities with other ongoing duties
The facilities, equipment, and supplies necessary to support the project
Budget allocated to accomplish project activities, including both the applicant’s contributions and the optional
cost share

Review Criteria:






Evidence that the applicant will complete the project activities in the time allocated through the effective
deployment and management of resources, including personnel, money, facilities, equipment, and supplies
Evidence of sound financial management, coupled with an appropriate and cost efficient budget
Evidence that the project personnel demonstrate appropriate experience and expertise and will commit
adequate time to accomplish project activities
Evidence that the applicant is capable of successfully completing the project and activities

For this section of the application, reviewers will consider information provided in the Narrative, Budget Forms,

Budget Justification, and Resumes.

Proof of Eligibility as an Organization that Primarily Serves and Represents Native Hawaiians
This is required for organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians. If the applicant is not a Native
Hawaiian organization, do not include this information in application.
If you are applying as an organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians, you must submit proof
that you are an eligible not-for-profit organization that primarily serves and represents Native Hawaiians (as defined in
20 U.S.C. Section 7517). As proof of eligibility, you must submit the organization’s charter documents, including the
organization’s articles of incorporation. You may provide additional proof of eligibility as well.
In addition, eligible not-for-profit organizations that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians must submit proof
of nonprofit status, which may be either




a copy of the IRS letter indicating the organization’s eligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, or
an official document identifying the organization as a unit of state or local government or other tax-exempt
multipurpose organization. If prepared specifically for this application, the certification must be on the parent
organization’s letterhead and certified by an official of the parent organization.

Note: We will not accept a letter of sales tax exemption as proof of nonprofit status.
Conditionally Required Documents
Proof of Nonprofit Status
If your organization is a private, nonprofit organization, you must submit a copy of the IRS letter indicating your
eligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. We
will not accept a letter of state sales tax exemption as proof of nonprofit status.
Please consult the table below to determine if any additional documents are required. If any of the conditions in the
left column apply to your project, then the documents described in the right column are required. If you do not provide
them, your application will be considered incomplete and will be rejected from further consideration.
If your project involves …

Then you must include …

A federally negotiated indirect cost rate

A current copy of your Federally Negotiated Indirect
Cost Rate Agreement

A partner who will receive grant funds or who will contribute
substantive funds to the completion of project activities

An IMLS Partnership Statement form for each partner
entity

A digital product (for example, a database of digital images,
new software program)

Specifications for Projects that Develop Digital Products
Form

An organization that primarily serves and represents Native
Hawaiians

Proof of eligibility consisting of




the organization’s charter documents,
including the articles of incorporation and
a copy of the IRS letter indicating the
organization’s nonprofit status or an official
document identifying the organization as a
unit of state or local government or other taxexempt multipurpose organization.

Supporting Documents
You may submit other attachments of your choosing as part of your application package, but do not overload the
reviewers with too much information. These attachments should include only information that will supplement the
narrative and support the project description provided in the application. They should help reviewers envision your
project, but they should not be used to answer narrative questions. You may wish to consider the following:










Letters of commitment from consultants, partners or, other groups that will work closely with the applicant on
this project
Letters of support from subject-matter experts who are familiar with your proposed project
Needs assessments (i.e. formal or informal documentation used to justify, evaluate, and plan projects)
Reports from planning activities
Products or evaluations from previously completed or ongoing projects of a similar nature
Web links to relevant online materials
Vendor quotes
Equipment specifications

Note: When attaching these documents, give each one a specific title for clear identification. All Supporting
Documents must include dates of creation and authorship.
What Federal Laws Do I Agree to Comply With When I Submit My Application?
As an applicant for Federal funds, you must certify that you are responsible for complying with certain
nondiscrimination, debarment and suspension, drug-free workplace, and lobbying laws. These are outlined below and
are set out in more detail, along with other requirements, in the Assurances and Certifications. By signing the application
form, which includes the Assurances and Certifications, you certify that you are in compliance with these
requirements and that you will maintain records and submit any reports that are necessary to ensure compliance.
Your failure to comply with these statutory and regulatory requirements may result in the suspension or termination of
your grant and require you to return funds to the government.
1. Nondiscrimination Statutes: You certify that you do not discriminate:






On the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), in accordance with
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.);
On the grounds of disability, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
(29 U.S.C. §701 et seq., including §794);
On the basis of age, in accordance with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, as amended (42
U.S.C. §6101 et seq.); and
On the basis of sex, in any education program or activity, in accordance with Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.)

2. Debarment and Suspension (2 C.F.R. Part 180 and 2 C.F.R. Part 3185):
You certify that neither you nor your principals: (a) are presently excluded or disqualified; (b) have been convicted
within the preceding three years of offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. §180.800 (including but not limited to: fraud, antitrust,
embezzlement, or offense indicating lack of business integrity) or have had a civil judgment rendered again you or
them for one of such offenses within that time period; (c) are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly
charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local) with commission of any of such offenses; or (d) have had
one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated within the preceding three years for cause or
default. Where you are unable to certify to any of the above, you must attach an explanation to this application. You
must also comply with applicable sections of the OMB guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 180, and include a term or condition
in lower-tier transactions requiring lower-tier participants to comply with subpart C of the OMB guidance in 2 C.F.R.
part 180.
3. Federal Debt Status:
You certify that you are not delinquent in the repayment of any Federal debt. Examples include delinquent payroll or
other taxes, audit disallowances, and benefit overpayments.

4. Drug-Free Workplace:
You must provide a drug-free workplace by complying with the requirements of 2 C.F.R. part 3186. This includes:
making a good faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace; publishing a drug-free workplace statement; establishing
a drug-free awareness program for your employees; taking actions concerning employees who are convicted of
violating drug statutes in the workplace; and identifying (either at the time of your application or upon award, or in
documents that you keep on file in your offices) all known workplaces under your Federal awards.
5. Lobbying Activities (31 U.S.C. §1352):
You are subject to various restrictions against lobbying or attempting to influence a Federal employee or a Member of
Congress or Congressional employees, in connection with legislation, appropriations, or the award or modification of
a Federal contract, grant, cooperative agreement, or loan. Certain additional restrictions apply if you are requesting
over $100,000 in Federal assistance.
The Assurances and Certifications contain other general requirements that may apply depending on the nature of your
grant activity (for example, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 and the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966).

5. After You Apply
What is the application review process?
We use a peer review process to evaluate all eligible and complete applications. Reviewers are professionals in the
field with relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of project activities identified in the applications. They are
instructed to evaluate proposed projects according to the criteria identified in the program guidelines. The Director
takes into account the advice provided by the review process and makes final funding decisions consistent with the
purposes of the agency’s programs.
How can I serve as a reviewer?
All competitive awards are reviewed by museum professionals who know the needs of communities, can share best
practices, and are well versed in the issues and concerns of museums today.
If you are interested in serving as a reviewer, you may submit your information through our online reviewer
application at www.imls.gov/reviewers/become.aspx. Please remember to attach your resume. Your information will be
considered, and if accepted, your name will be entered into our reviewer database. You will be contacted prior to the
next deadline regarding your availability to serve as a reviewer.
There are many benefits to reviewing applications, including enhancing your professional knowledge and serving the
museum and library communities. If you are selected to serve, you will be helping IMLS and strengthening our grant
review process.
When will we find out if we have been selected to receive a grant?
No information about the status of an application will be released until the applications have been reviewed and all
deliberations are concluded. IMLS expects to notify both funded and unfunded applicants of final decisions by late
September 2012. Funded projects may not begin earlier than October 1, 2012.