Form G-1482 Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Progra

Citizenship and Integration Direct Services Grant Program, Form G-1482
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number: 1615-0140
Expiration Date: 12/31/2023
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a valid OMB Control Number. The public
reporting burden for this after award report collection of information is 28 hours. This includes the time
required for reviewing instructions and completing the form. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the
burden, to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of
Citizenship, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009, OMB No. 1615-0140. Do
not mail your completed form to this address.
Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain Benefits.
DHS Privacy Notice
AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, is
collected under Section 538 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2016 (Pub. L.
No. 114-113), Division F, Title V.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to assess
an organization’s eligibility for federal funding under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program.
DHS uses the information you provide to grant or deny the grant your organization is seeking.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested
information, and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in denial of your application.
ROUTINE USES: The information may be used by and disclosed to DHS personnel and contractors
or other agents who need the information to assist in reviewing and determining your organization’s
eligibility for the citizenship instruction and naturalization application services funding opportunities.
DHS follows approved routine uses described in the associated published system of records notice [DHSALL-002 DHS Mailing and Other Lists System, DHS/USCIS/ICE/CBP-001 Alien File, Index, and
National File Tracking System of Records, and DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System] and the
published privacy impact assessments [DHS/ALL/PIA-006 DHS General Contacts List and
DHS/USCIS/PIA-066 Citizen and Integration Grant Program] which you can find at
www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate, for law enforcement
purposes or in the interest of national security.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
FY 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program
Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services
All entities wishing to do business with the federal government must have a unique entity
identifier (UEI). Entities that have done business with the government can obtain their UEI by
following the steps here. Entities that have not done business with the federal government may
request a UEI via the System for Award Management (SAM) web page at:
https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration. Receiving a UEI take 1-2 business days
Grants.gov registration information can be found at:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html. Detailed information regarding UEI and
SAM is also provided in Section D of this NOFO.
Additional Information can be found on Grants.gov:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/planned-uei-updates.html

A. Program Description
1. Issued By
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS), External Affairs Directorate (EXA), Office of Citizenship (OoC)
2. Assistance Listings Number
97.010
3. Assistance Listings Title
Citizenship Education and Training
4. Funding Opportunity Title
FY 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program: Citizenship Instruction and
Naturalization Application Services (CINAS)
5. Funding Opportunity Number
DHS-22-CIS-010-002
6. Authorizing Authority for Program
H.R. 2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103) Division F, Title IV
7. Appropriation Authority for Program
H.R. 2471 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Pub. L. 117-103) Division F, Title IV
8. Announcement Type
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Initial
9. Program Overview, Objectives, and Priorities
OoC is charged with promoting instruction and training on the rights and responsibilities of
citizenship. USCIS recognizes that naturalization is a key milestone in the civic integration of
immigrants. Naturalization requirements, such as knowledge of English and U.S. history and
government, encourage civic learning and build a strong foundation upon which immigrants
can fully integrate into society. Through preparing for naturalization, immigrants gain tools to
become successful citizens and meet their responsibilities as United States citizens.
The goal of the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is to expand the availability of highquality citizenship preparation services for immigrants across the nation and to provide
opportunities for immigrants to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate into the
fabric of American society.
Additional activities that support this goal include identifying, implementing, and sharing best
practices in citizenship preparation; increasing the use of and access to technology in
citizenship preparation programs; working with local libraries and museums which serve as
vital resources for immigrant communities; and incorporating strategies to foster welcoming
communities as part of the citizenship and civic integration process.
Since it began in 2009, the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program has awarded more than
$112 million through 513 competitive grants to immigrant-serving organizations in 39 states
and the District of Columbia. Now in its 14th year, the program has helped more than 290,500
LPRs prepare for citizenship. The Citizenship and Integration Grant Program supports the
objectives of Executive Order 14012, Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and
Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans and the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security's Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-2024, by promoting integration,
inclusion, and citizenship. Furthermore, the goals of the Citizenship and Integration Grant
Program address the DHS mission to enforce and administer our immigration laws as stated in
the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review as the program provides immigrants
instruction on the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship and information and support on
how to apply for naturalization within the authorized practice of immigration law.
Request for Applications
In fiscal year (FY) 2022, a total of approximately $13.8 million in federal funding is available
for eligible organizations to provide direct citizenship preparation services to immigrants
through this funding opportunity. USCIS anticipates awarding up to 50 grants of up to
$300,000 each.
Proposed services must include the following two components:
A. Citizenship Instruction Services:
Educational services that provide enrolled immigrants with the skills and knowledge
needed to prepare for citizenship, including instruction in English as a Second
Language (ESL), U.S. history and government, and the naturalization process.

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B. Naturalization Application Services:
Within the scope of the authorized practice of immigration law, grant recipients must
assist qualified program participants in preparing and submitting Form N-400,
Application for Naturalization, preparing for the naturalization interview, and providing
ongoing case management as needed.
For detailed information on the two mandatory program components, see below Section C.2,
Eligibility Information.
Partnerships
Partnerships are encouraged. Applicants may include partnerships with other public or nonprofit organizations in their proposal. The principal applicant must directly provide either
citizenship instruction or naturalization application services, or both. A partner organization is
a “sub-awardee” if the organization will receive a portion of the grant funding to provide
additional or complementary direct citizenship instruction or naturalization application
services.
The applicant must complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or other binding
document with the prospective sub-awardee and submit it with the application. The applicant
must clearly demonstrate how it will monitor the prospective sub-awardee’s performance and
ensure that the prospective sub-awardee complies with all grant award conditions and data
reporting requirements. The MOU must state the minimum number of students to whom the
sub-awardee will provide services; and how grant funding will be allocated to fund the
services. Prospective sub-awardees must have their own individual UEI number and will be
responsible for financial and performance reporting. Sub-awardees must submit their reports to
the primary applicant for submission to DHS.
10. Performance Measures
For this grant program, performance will be evaluated based on the following metrics:
1. Percentage of enrolled students who post-test using nationally normed standardized tests
of English language proficiency (minimum goal of 80%);
2. Percentage of post-tested students demonstrating measurable educational gains (minimum
goal of 80%); and
3. Three performance metrics for which the minimum goals vary based on funding level, as
described in the chart below.
a. Number of newly enrolled non-duplicated immigrants in citizenship instruction
classes;
b. Number of immigrants for whom your organization will provide naturalization
eligibility screening;
c. Number of immigrants for whom your organization will prepare and file a Form
N-400 and Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited
Representative.

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Funding Level

from
To
$270,000
$300,000
$240,000
$269,999
$210,000
$239,999
$180,000
$209,999
$150,000
$179,999

Newly enrolled nonduplicated
immigrants in
citizenship
instruction classes

Immigrants
receiving
naturalization
eligibility screening

Immigrants filing
Forms N-400 and G28

200
180
160
140
120

200
180
160
140
120

200
180
160
140
120

B. Federal Award Information
1. Available Funding for the NOFO:

$13,800,000

2. Projected number of Awards:

50

3. Period of Performance:

24 months

Note: extensions are permitted. See Section H, Additional Information, Period of Performance
Extensions, for more information.
4. Projected Period of Performance Start Date(s):

10/01/2022

5. Projected Period of Performance End Date(s):

09/30/2024

6. Funding Instrument Type: Grant

C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
The following entities are eligible to apply to this announcement:
a. City or township governments
b. County governments
c. Independent school districts
d. Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
e. Indian/Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal
governments)

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f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization
Public/Indian Housing Authority
Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education
Private institutions of higher education
Public & state-controlled institutions of higher education
Special district governments
State governments

2. Applicant Eligibility Criteria
Applicants are required to demonstrate experience with, and extensive knowledge of the
community they propose to serve and must describe how the proposed program design will
address the specific needs of this community. Through citizenship instruction and
naturalization application services, the immigrants served under the program will gain tools
required to become successful citizens.
Applicants and any proposed sub-awardees must demonstrate recent experience with the
provision of citizenship preparation services. Specifically, at least one year of experience
within the past three years:
A. Providing citizenship instruction in a classroom setting (or in a virtual setting since
March 2020) that follows a curriculum and utilizes a textbook; and
B. Providing naturalization application services within the authorized practice of
immigration law to participants.
Proposed services must include the following two mandatory components:
A. Citizenship Instruction Services to prepare immigrants for the naturalization process.
Programs must include:
1. Instruction, which must include the following content areas:
a. ESL instruction in reading, writing, and speaking;
b. U.S. history and government instruction primarily delivered in English for test
preparation and the promotion of civic integration; 1 and
c. The naturalization process and eligibility interview, with instruction primarily
delivered in English.
2. Course Curriculum, which must include all components outlined in the USCIS
Guide to Creating an Adult Citizenship Education Curriculum:
a. Instruction in U.S. history and government for test preparation and the
promotion of civic integration;
b. Activities that promote civic and linguistic integration;

Some instruction in languages other than English may be provided under the program to immigrants who qualify for
exemptions to the English language naturalization requirements. Grant recipients who provide such instruction must still
provide the minimum number of permanent residents with grant-funded citizenship instruction in English over the twoyear period of performance.

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c. ESL instruction in reading, writing, and speaking for the naturalization test,
naturalization process, and to conduct required integration activities; and
d. Instruction on the naturalization interview and Form N-400.
e. Instruction on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including
information on voting rights and responsibilities, how to register to vote after
becoming a citizen, the basics of becoming an informed voter, and the penalties
for voting before becoming a citizen under Division C of PL 104–208, 110 Stat.
3009-546. 2
3. Course Textbooks, which must align with the skill level of the students in the class:
a. Published hardcopy or digital textbooks only, compilations of worksheets or
handouts will not be accepted; and
b. All students must be issued a textbook for their own personal use (or provided
with access to a digital textbook).
4. Nationally Normed Standardized ESL Assessments, which must be used to place
and assess progress of all students enrolled under this program, and verify that:
a. At least 80% of enrolled students must participate in post-testing; and
b. At least 80% of post-tested students must demonstrate educational gains as
evidenced by increased standardized test scores.
5. Course Structure, which must include at least 40 hours of citizenship instruction over
a 10–12-week class cycle with managed enrollment to students at the National Reporting
System for Adult Education (NRS) low beginning to high intermediate levels (NRS
Levels 2-5);
a. Classes offered at the NRS literacy level (1) or at the NRS advanced level (6) are
not eligible for funding under this grant program; and
b. Additional information about NRS levels is available on the National Reporting
System for Adult Education website; and
c. Tutoring services do not count toward the minimum 40 hours of classroom
instruction.
6. Qualified Instructors: Qualified citizenship instructors who have degrees in
education (K-12 Social Studies, History, Teaching English to Speakers of Other
Languages (TESOL), or Adult Education) and/or who have at least one year of
experience teaching adult immigrants. Although not a requirement, programs whose
instructors have the following education, certification, and/or experience are generally
more likely to be scored higher than programs that do not:
a. Hold a degree in TESOL; and/or
b. Hold TESOL certification from a state licensing agency; and/or
c. Have a minimum of two years of experience in TESOL instruction in a
classroom setting for an adult education program that utilizes a textbook and a
structured curriculum.
2

https://www.congress.gov/104/plaws/publ208/PLAW-104publ208.pdf

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7. Integration Activities: The intent of this requirement is to encourage students to extend
knowledge acquisition beyond traditional classroom instruction through opportunities to
experience and navigate American civic life firsthand through in-depth learning
activities. Applicants are encouraged to draw upon their local resources, venues, and
landmarks when conceptualizing and designing these civic integration learning
activities. Suggested categories for the required integration activities include but are not
limited to:
a. Site-based civic integration activities – Local trips outside the classroom to sites
and landmarks of historical and/or cultural significance, libraries, museums, other
local public entities, and organizations that promote public safety, etc.
b. Classroom-based civic integration activities – Activities that may involve guest
speakers such as local civic leaders, public servants, or program alumni to provide
the opportunity for student interaction and exchange, or the use of multimedia
and/or materials-based methods that promote an enhanced understanding of key
moments in U.S. history and/or the form and function of local, state, and federal
government;
c. Civic participation – Activities that encourage students to take participatory
learning beyond the classroom by attending a public meeting, volunteering, or
participating in local civic institutions; and
d. Other integration activities – Activities that promote in-depth understanding of
the student’s role as a future citizen of the United States, including the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship; our shared American history; government functions,
structure, and laws; geography; and traditions, symbols, and holidays. These can
be external or in-class.
8. Service Delivery: Applicants are encouraged to primarily provide in-person instruction.
However, applicants may supplement in-person classes with virtual classes if it allows
them to extend the reach of their services. Additionally, applicants should be prepared to
pivot to virtual or hybrid instruction if public health restrictions limit in-person
gatherings. Proposals should outline plans for offering virtual or hybrid instruction, in
case circumstances warrant flexibility, including information on:
a. How programs will provide students with digital access to classes;
b. Which method of communication or learning platform(s) instructors will use;
c. How students will obtain textbooks and other class materials;
d. How instructors will virtually engage with students;
e. How instructors will track class attendance; and
f. How instructors will administer pre- and post-tests.
For more detailed information on the content and competencies that applicants are
required to address in grant-funded classes, please review the USCIS Guide to
Creating an Adult Citizenship Education Curriculum and the Adult Citizenship
Education Sample Curriculum for a High Beginning ESL Level Course.
B. Naturalization Application Services, within the scope of the authorized practice of
immigration law, to support immigrants in the naturalization application and interview

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process. Grantees are encouraged to use and promote the use of MyUSCIS for filing
Forms N-400. Programs must include:
1. Qualified Legal Service Providers, which includes:
a. A U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Accredited Representative working for a
DOJ Recognized Organization. Partial accreditation is permitted; or
b. An attorney who is an employee of the applicant or the sub-awardee
organization.
c. Pro bono or volunteer attorneys may be used to supplement the program but may
not:
i. Serve as the applicant’s sole provider of immigration legal services, or
ii. Serve as a supervisor to staff members who are not accredited
representatives and provide such services.
d. The organization must demonstrate an established process to refer individuals with
complex immigration matters beyond the scope of the services provided under this
grant to a qualified attorney.
2. Eligibility Screenings must include an assessment of each program participant’s:
a. Ability to meet the educational requirements of naturalization; and
b. Ability to meet other legal requirements of naturalization.
For more information, see the USCIS Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet.
3. Case Management must include:
a. The preparation and submission of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization; 3
b. The preparation and submission of Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as
Attorney or Accredited Representative; 4
c. Filing other forms or documents (such as Form N-648, Medical Certification for
Disability Exceptions and Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver);
d. Interview preparation;
e. A representative’s appearance at the naturalization interview when applicable;
and
f. Responding to a Request for Evidence (RFE) when applicable;
4.

Service Delivery: Organizations should plan to provide in-person naturalization
application services. However, should public health restrictions limit the ability of
applicants to offer in-person services, they should have a plan in place to pivot to
virtual or hybrid naturalization application services. Proposals should outline the
applicant’s plan for:

3

Grant recipients are strongly encouraged to file forms electronically whenever possible. In the case that e-filing is not a
viable option, the grantee’s legal service provider is required to mail the naturalization application package to USCIS on
behalf of the client. Applications may not be given to the client to mail.
At grant-supported group processing events, a Form G-28 may not be required if the pro bono attorney filling out the Form
N-400 determines that the services provided would not be considered “practice” or “preparation”, as those terms are defined
in 8 C.F.R.CFR 1.2. Such pro bono attorneys, however, will be required to complete the preparer section of the Form N400.
4

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a. How organizations will communicate with participants;
b. How organizations will verify identity and immigrant status at intake; and
c. How organizations will collect documents, forms, and signatures.
Not Eligible
For-profit law firms and attorneys in private practice are not eligible to receive funding under
this funding opportunity (See the Glossary in Appendix B for the definitions of
“representation” and “employee”).
Current awardees and sub-awardees under the FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant
Program (funding opportunity DHS-21-CIS-010-002) are not eligible to receive funding
under this funding opportunity and awardees under the Refugee and Asylee Integration
Program (DHS-21-CIS-010-003) are not eligible to apply to this program.
Sub-applicants to DHS-22-CIS-010-01 (Regional Hub Grants) are not eligible to receive
funding under this funding opportunity. Regional Hub sub-applicants may not separately apply
as the primary applicant under any of the FY 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Programs,
as sub-applicants are potentially eligible for the Regional Hub grant based on their
demonstrated need for capacity building and support developing or expanding citizenship
education services.
If DHS determines at any point during the review process that an application does not meet
these eligibility requirements, the application will be removed from further consideration.
Non-Responsive Applications
Your application will be deemed non-responsive if:
a. Form SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance is missing.
b. Form SF-424A – Budget is missing.
c. Form SF-424B – Assurances - Non-Construction Programs is missing.
d. The applicant’s Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is not registered in
SAM.
e. The application does not include a Budget Narrative or Budget Table.
f. The application does not include a Project Narrative.
3. Maintenance of Effort (MOE)
There is no MOE requirement for this program. Requests for funds under this announcement
must not be used to take the place of activities described in the application that are currently
supported with other funding. Also, grant funds must not be used to support activities that are a
normal part of the organization’s operations.
4. Cost Share or Match
There is a minimum cost share requirement for this program of 10% of the total requested
funding amount. Applicants should clearly identify which budget items are to be supported by
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federal grant funding and which are to be supported by in-kind contributions and/or other
funding sources, along with an estimate of the value of these non-federal funding sources. All
proposed cost share contributions must be clearly described in the budget portion of the
proposal. Applicants will be scored on this during the technical review.
Acceptable forms of cost share items include:
• Volunteer services: Rates for volunteer services must be consistent with those paid
for similar work.
• Employee time: Employee’s regular rate of pay.
• Supplies: Fair market value of the supplies at the time of donation.
• Cash contributions: Cash value.
• Equipment, building, or land: Fair market value or rental value at the time of
application, as established by an independent appraisal.
• Project co-funding: Actual cost incurred.

D. Application and Submission Information
1. Key Dates and Times
a. Application Start Date:

06/27/2022

b. Application Submission Deadline:

08/05/2022 at 11:59PM EST

c. Anticipated Award Date:

No later than 09/30/2022

NOTE: The application must be received in Grants.gov by the date and time listed above.
If an application is received after the deadline, it will not be considered. Applicants will
receive a confirmation from Grants.gov once the application is successfully submitted.
All applications are time stamped by the Grants.gov system when submitted and recipients
are notified accordingly. The federal office will download all applications that are received
by the deadline date and time as indicated on the NOFO. Late applications will not be
accepted.
d. Other Key Dates
Event
Obtaining UEI Number
Obtaining a valid EIN
Updating SAM registration
Starting application in
Grants.gov

Suggested Deadline for Completion
Four weeks before actual submission deadline
Four weeks before actual submission deadline
Four weeks before actual submission deadline
One week before actual submission deadline

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2. Agreeing to Terms and Conditions of the Award
By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the requirements of this NOFO
and the terms and conditions of the award, should they receive an award.
3. Address to Request Application Package
Application forms and instructions are available at Grants.gov. To access these materials, go to
https://www.grants.gov/, select “Applicants” then “Apply for Grants.” To obtain the
application package, select “Download a Grant Application Package.” Enter the Assistance
Listing and/or funding opportunity number located on the cover of this NOFO, select
“Download Package,” and then follow the prompts to download the application package.
For a hard copy of the full NOFO, please write or fax a request to:
Jacqueline Greely
Grants Officer
[email protected]
Fax: 202-447-5600
If you use assistive technology and are unable to access any materials on Grants.gov, please
email the Support Center at [email protected].
Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov portal. If you experience difficulties
accessing information or have any questions, please call 1-800-518-4726.
4. Steps Required to Submit an Application, Unique Entity Identifier, and System for Award
Management (SAM)
To apply for an award under this program, all applicants must:
a. Apply for, update, or verify their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number and Employer ID
Number (EIN)
b. In the application, provide a valid UEI number;
c. Have an account with https://login.gov/;
d. Register for, update, or verify their SAM account and ensure the account is active before
submitting the application;
e. Create a Grants.gov account;
f. Add a profile to a Grants.gov account;
g. Establish an Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) in Grants.gov;
h. Submit (if applicable, add: an initial) application in Grants.gov; and
i. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information, including
information on a recipient’s immediate and highest-level owner and subsidiaries, as well on
all predecessors that have been awarded a federal contract or grant within the last three
years, if applicable, at all times during which it has an active federal award or an
application or plan under consideration by a federal awarding agency.

12

Applicants are advised that DHS may not make a federal award until the applicant has
complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. Therefore, an applicant’s SAM
registration must be active not only at the time of application, but also during the application
review period and when DHS is ready to make a federal award. Further, as noted above, an
applicant’s or recipient’s SAM registration must remain active for the duration of an active
federal award. If an applicant’s SAM registration is expired at the time of application, expires
during application review, or expires any other time before award, DHS may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a federal award and use that determination as a basis for
making a federal award to another applicant.
5. Electronic Delivery
DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single
site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS encourages or requires applicants to
submit their applications online through Grants.gov, depending on the funding opportunity. For
this funding opportunity, the DHS GFAD requires applicants to submit applications through
Grants.gov.
6. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov
Instructions: Registering in Grants.gov is a multi-step process. Read the instructions below
about registering to apply for DHS funds. Applicants should read the registration instructions
carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process.
Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process
will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.
The registration process can take up to four weeks to complete. Therefore, registration should
be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required
application submission deadlines.
Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) Number, active System for Award
Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual
applicants are eligible to apply for this grant funding opportunity, then you may begin with
step 3, Create a Grants.gov account, listed below.
Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but UEI and SAM
registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done
in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application
submission deadlines. Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.
a. Obtain a UEI Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding,
must have a UEI number. Applicants must enter the UEI number in the data entry field
labeled "Organizational UEI" on the SF-424 form.

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i. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a UEI number, refer to:
https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration.
b. Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register
with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will
prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be
renewed annually.
i. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2register-with-sam.html.
c. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov.
Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html.
d. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single
applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant.
If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you
may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an
organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI Number for the
organization in the UEI field while adding a profile.
i. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html.
e. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an
Organization Applicant Profile, the applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access
is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the
appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to
complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to
submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role.
For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html.
f. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html.
g. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of
the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted
into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz
POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on
behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed, and it
is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

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7. How to Submit an Application to DHS via Grants.gov
Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online
environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different
webforms within an application. For each NOFO, you can create individual instances of a
workspace.
Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to
apply for opportunities using Workspace, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html.
a. Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it
through your organization for review before submitting.
b. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application
together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and
check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of
your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the
blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access contextsensitive help.
c. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download
individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and
saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed
through Adobe Reader.
NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the
appropriate version of the software at:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html.
d. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a
different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to
successfully submit your application.
e. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields
across other forms, such as the applicant’s name, address, and UEI number. To trigger this
feature, an applicant must complete the SF-424 information first. Once it is completed, the
information will transfer to the other forms.
f. Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the
Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov
recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date
to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the
application submission.

15

g. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a
Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the
application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after
submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the
Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.
For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html.
Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1800-518-4726 and email at [email protected]. For questions related to the specific grant
opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant to which you
are applying.
If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov
Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist DHS
with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.
8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission
Online Submission. All applications must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern time on the due
date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by
Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application
is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the
application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number
(GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application.
This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov
Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.
When DHS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the
download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of
the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the
application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that
Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established
due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by
DHS.
Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission
can take some time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will
provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to
the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support
Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is
occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to
process the application.
9. Content and Form of Application Submission

16

See Appendix A for a list of required documents for this application, forms, and formats.
No pre-applications or letters of intent are required to apply.
As discussed in the eligibility section of this NOFO, current awardees and sub-awardees under
the FY 2021 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program (funding opportunities DHS-21-CIS010-002 and DHS-21-CIS-010-003) are not eligible to receive funding under this funding
opportunity. Additionally, sub-applicants to DHS-22-CIS-010-01 (Regional Hub Grants) are not
eligible to receive funding under this funding opportunity.
10. Other Submission Requirements
DHS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single
site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. DHS requires applicants to submit their
applications online through Grants.gov. Applications that are not submitted through Grants.gov
by the deadline will not be considered.
11. Funding Restrictions
Grant funds may not be used for the following purposes:
a. Cost-sharing or matching funds for other federal grants, lobbying, or intervention in
federal regulatory or adjudicatory proceedings. In addition, federal funds may not be used
to sue the federal government or any other government entity.
b. USCIS application fees.
c. Costs of organized fundraising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives,
solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or
obtain contributions.
d. Profit/Fee is not allowable except when subcontracting for routine goods and
services withcommercial organizations.
e. Foreign travel.
f. Construction costs and purchase of real property under this funding opportunity.
g. Pre-award costs.
h. Funding for direct reimbursement of proposal development.
i. Costs for food or refreshments.
j. Incentive items or gift cards.
k. General volunteer stipends.
l. Living allowances for any national volunteer service program participants.
m. Fees for conferences that are not considered training events
Pre-Award Costs
Pre-Award Costs are not allowed.
12. Allowable Costs

17

DHS grant funds may only be used for the purposes set forth in the agreement and must be
consistent with the statutory authority for the award. Grant funds may be used for the following
purposes:
a. Providing services to qualified program participants only, regardless of race, color, religion,
sex, or national origin.
b. Resources to support civics-based literacy, civics-based ESL instruction, and citizenship
instruction, including staff salaries, textbooks/ materials, nationally normed standardized
assessment tests, software, etc.
c. Professional development and training for staff and/or volunteers related to the provision
of civics-based literacy, civics-based ESL instruction, and citizenship instruction and/or
naturalization application services.
d. Facility rental costs not to exceed more than 20% of the total approved budget.
e. Resources to support naturalization application services including staff salaries, case
management systems, costs associated with DOJ recognition of organizations and
accreditation (or renewal) of staff. This includes training costs related to DOJ recognition
and accreditation.
f. Transportation costs for students attending grant-funded classes.
i. Transportation funds provided to students must match the student’s individual
transportation costs.
ii. Applicants must have a system to track how transportation funds are used.
g. Reimbursement of transportation costs for volunteers participating in grant-funded
activities. Volunteers may not receive a general transportation stipend.
i. Transportation funds provided to volunteers must match the volunteers’ individual
transportation costs.
ii. Applicants must have a system to track how transportation funds are used.
h. Childcare costs to assist eligible participants to attend grant-funded classes.
i. Equipment purchases directly related to the provision of services.
j. Costs associated with the use of computers for citizenship instruction (for example,
computerequipment, internet access, electronic tablets, etc.).
Management and Administration (M&A) Costs
Management and Administration Costs are allowable for the grantee and any proposed subawardee (if applicable). For more information on allowable costs, please see Funding
Restrictions (above).
Indirect Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs
Indirect Costs are allowable for the grantee and any proposed sub-awardee (if applicable).
The applicant must attach a copy of the latest indirect cost rate agreement negotiated
with a cognizant federal agency. Any non-federal entity that has never received a negotiated
indirect cost rate (except for those non-federal entities described in Appendix VII to 2 C.F.R.
§ 200 States and Local Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph
D.1.b) will be subject to a deminimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC)
which may be used indefinitely. As described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.403 Factors Affecting
Allowability of Costs, costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs, but
may not be double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology

18

once elected must be used consistently for all federal awards until such time as a non-federal
entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-federal entity may apply to do at any
time. For more information, see 2 C.F.R. § 200.414.

E. Application Review Information
1. Application Evaluation Criteria
a.

Programmatic Criteria
DHS will use the following criteria to evaluate applications deemed eligible and
responsive. Applicants can receive up to 100 points.
1.) Capacity to Provide Comprehensive Citizenship Instruction (15 Points)
The extent to which the applicant demonstrates:
• Experience providing citizenship instruction (a minimum of 1 year
of experience within the past 3 years is required) (6 points);
• Experience providing ESL instruction (for a minimum of 1 year
experience within the past 3 years is required) (6 points); and
• The need for citizenship instruction within the immigrant community
that the applicant serves (3 points).
2.) Quality of the Citizenship Instruction Program (30 points)
The extent to which the applicant proposes a high-quality citizenship
instruction program to meet the citizenship education needs of the
community, including:
• Attainable citizenship instruction program goals (4 points);
• Detailed outreach, orientation, intake, and student retention plans (4 points);
• Well-developed and appropriate curriculum and class structure,
including the use of integration activities, and a well-described
student assessment strategy (10 points); and
•
Qualified and experienced personnel (as described in the project
narrative requirements) (10 points). 5
• Detailed plan for pivoting to virtual or hybrid citizenship instruction
if required by public health guidance (2 points).
3.) Capacity to Provide Comprehensive Naturalization Application Services
(15 points)

5

Please see USCIS’ Professional Development Guide for Adult Citizenship Educators for competencies USCIS would expect
qualified and experienced personnel to demonstrate in the citizenship instruction classroom. Programs whose instructors
1) hold a degree in TESOL; and/or 2) hold TESOL certification from a state licensing agency; and/or 3) have a minimum of 2
years of experience in TESOL instruction in a classroom setting for a program that utilizes a textbook and a structured
curriculum are more likely to receiving funding.

19

The extent to which the applicant demonstrates:
• Recent experience providing naturalization application services within
the authorized practice of immigration law 6 (10 points); and
• The need for naturalization application services within the
immigrant community that the applicant serves (5 points).
4.) Quality of the Naturalization Application Services Program (30
points)
The extent to which the applicant proposes a high-quality naturalization
application services program, including:
• Attainable naturalization application services program goals (4 points);
• Detailed outreach and intake plans (4 points);
• High-quality service delivery and case management (10 points); and
• Qualified and experienced personnel (as described in the project
narrative requirements) (10 points).
• Detailed plan for pivoting to virtual or hybrid naturalization application
services if required by public health guidance (2 points).
5.) Integration of Services (5 points)
The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a plan to provide integrated
citizenship preparation services. A well-defined cross-referral plan is required,
that ensures priority access for enrolled students seeking legal services, and for
legal applicants interested in citizenship instruction.
6.) Cost and Program Effectiveness and Balance (5 points)
The extent to which the applicant’s:
• Proposed budget is tied to the delivery of programmatic services and
demonstrates a programmatically supported balance between funding
dedicated to citizenship instruction and naturalization application services
(2 points); and
• Proposed budget demonstrates an effort to satisfy the 10% cost share
requirement (2 points).
• Program can pivot to virtual or hybrid services if public health restrictions
limit in-person gatherings. (1 point)
b. Financial Integrity Criteria
Prior to making a federal award, the DHS GFAD is required by 31 U.S.C. §3321 note, 41
U.S.C. §2313, and 2 C.F.R. §200.205 to review information available through any OMBdesignated repositories of government wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity
information. Therefore, application evaluation criteria may include the following risk-based
considerations of the applicant:
6

DHS requires that all applicants demonstrate experience providing naturalization application services within the authorized
practice of immigration law. Applications that fail to demonstrate this experience will not be scored on criteria 3 and 4 and,
as a result, will be deemed ineligible.

20

1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
5.)

Financial stability.
Quality of management systems and ability to meet management standards.
History of performance in managing federal award.
Reports and findings from audits.
Ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements.

c. Supplemental Financial Integrity Criteria and Review
Prior to making a federal award where the anticipated total federal share will be greater
than the simplified acquisition threshold, currently $250,000 (see Section 805 of the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-91, OMB
Memorandum M-18-18 at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/M-1818.pdf):
1) DHS GFAD is required to review and consider any information about the applicant
that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through
SAM, which is currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS) and is accessible through the sam.gov website.
2) An applicant, at its option, may review information in FAPIIS and comment on
any information about itself that a federal awarding agency previously entered.
3) DHS GFAD will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other
information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity,
business ethics, and record of performance under federal awards when completing
the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. §200.206.
2. Review and Selection Process
DHS will conduct an initial review of applications to determine the responsiveness of the
application. If an applicant is determined to be ineligible (see section C. Eligibility
Information) or an application is determined to be non-responsive, DHS will notify the
applicant. All responsive and eligible applications will be reviewed as described below:
a. DHS will assemble reviewers which may include both federal and non-federal reviewers
to review the eligible applications. Reviews of submitted applications will be conducted
by remote review.
b. Teams of technical reviewers will review each eligible application against the evaluation
criteria. The reviewers will assign a score and provide summary comments based on the
evaluation criteria identified above.
c. An application may be selected for post-review quality control and possible rescoring if it
received significantly diverging scores and comments from reviewers.
d. An internal review panel consisting of DHS staff will review the highest ranked
applications and make final funding recommendations. The internal review panel may
take applications out of rank order in consideration of strategic program priorities, which
are identified below.

21

e. DHS may perform an additional review of the applicant organization and any subawardees and/or its key personnel. This may include reviewing audit reports, publicly
available materials, and/or government data which may have a bearing on award outcome.
DHS may request additional materials from the applicant as part of this review, including:
1) The summary letter from the applicant’s most recent audit report;
2) Documentation of previous grant award completion that includes the name of the
grantor, amount awarded, and whether the grant recipient sufficiently completed the
requirements of the grant award (for example, a final close- out report, certification of
grant award completion, etc.);
3) A pre-award site visit or investigation to determine and validate current services and
proposed activities; and
4) A site visit conducted in the case of a contingent award in order to evaluate the
organization’s ability to satisfy the programmatic and administrative requirements of
the grant. DHS reserves the right to not pursue the completion of the award process if
preliminary investigations and/or site visits do not provide sufficient evidence of
organizational capacity to successfully administer the proposed grant.
f. After the technical review and before making final funding decisions, DHS will contact
the highest-ranking applicants to seek clarification and to negotiate technical and
programmatic aspects of the application. This will include negotiations on the curriculum
content, staffing, budget, and activities. If an application includes a sub-awardee that will
provide additional or complementary direct grant-funded services in partnership with the
main applicant, DHS may request to speak with all parties included in the application to
ensure sufficient planning and coordination has taken place prior to making an award.
g. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest. Technical and cost proposals submitted under this
NOFO will be protected from unauthorized disclosure in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations. DHS may use one or more support contractors in the logistical processing
of proposals; however, funding recommendations and final award decisions are solely the
responsibility of DHS personnel.
DHS screens all technical reviewers for potential conflicts of interest. To determine
possible conflicts of interest, DHS requires potential reviewers to complete and sign
conflict of interest and nondisclosure forms. DHS will keep the names of submitting
institutions and individuals as well as the substance of the applications confidential except
to reviewers and DHS staff involved in the award process. DHS will destroy any
unsuccessful applications after three years following the funding decision.
h. DHS strongly discourages, and will not consider, any supplementary materials submitted
by or on behalf of the applicant (for example, letters of support) other than those materials
specifically requested in this NOFO.
i. DHS will notify all applicants electronically of funding decisions. Unfunded applicants
may send a written request to [email protected] to receive a written
summary of comments related to the evaluation criteria, along with the points awarded to

22

the application for each of the evaluation criteria. DHS will send the written summary to
the applicant within 60 days of receipt of the request. Additional information beyond that
described here will not be provided.
j. Strategic Program Priorities: Based on the recommendations of the internal review
panel, DHS may consider the following factors when making an award:
1) Program Balance Factors, including (in descending order of importance):
a) Whether an application shows prioritization for underserved, marginalized or
vulnerable populations;
b) Whether an application, when balanced with other potential awards and with
existing Citizenship and Integration Grant Program recipients, represents a diverse
geographic area;
c) Whether an application, when balanced with other potential awards and existing
Citizenship and Integration Grant Program recipients, represents a diverse
population;
d) Whether an application, when balanced against other potential awards with similar
scores, incorporates use of technology in the citizenship instruction program that
would help immigrant students to gain sufficient digital literacy skills to navigate
USCIS’ educational resources and online application system.
2) Past performance of a previous Citizenship and Integration Grant Program
recipient (if applicable), including:
a) Whether a previous grant recipient achieved their core program goals.
b) Whether a previous grant recipient had major findings during a monitoring visit
and failed to resolve them in the prescribed time period;
c) Whether a previous grant recipient was placed on restricted drawdown status for
cause, and if so, whether they were able to meet the conditions to have this
restriction removed; and
d) Whether a previous grant recipient demonstrated an ability to file accurate and
timely quarterly performance reports.

F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Notice of Award
Notice of award will be sent by DHS to the awardee’s Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR). Before accepting the award, the AOR and recipient should carefully read the award
package. The award package includes instructions on administering the grant award and the
terms and conditions associated with responsibilities under federal awards. Recipients must
accept all conditions in this NOFO as well as any special terms and conditions in the
Notice of Award to receive an award under this program.
A grant award will be executed by a DHS Grants Officer authorized to obligate DHS
funding. Organizations that are being funded for the first time under this grant program will
be placed on restricted drawdown until quarterly performance goals are met. Unsuccessful
23

applicants will be contacted as well and will be encouraged to apply for future grant award
programs. Announcements for future grant opportunities will be listed on Grants.gov.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
All successful applicants for DHS grant and cooperative agreements are required to comply
with DHS Standard Terms and Conditions, which are available online at: DHS Standard Terms
and Conditions. In addition, awardees are required to comply with the prohibitions on certain
telecommunications equipment and services under Section 889 of the John. S. McCain
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019.
Post-award program income: In the event program income becomes available to the recipient
post-award, it is the recipient’s responsibility to notify the DHS Grants Officer to explain how
that development occurred, as part of their request for guidance and/or approval. The Grants
Officer will review approval requests for program income on a case-by-case basis; approval is
not automatic. Consistent with the policy and processes outlined in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, pertinent
guidance and options, as determined by the type of recipient and circumstances involved, may
be approved by the Grants Officer. If approval is granted, an award modification will be issued
with an explanatory note in the remarks section of the face page concerning guidance and/or
options pertaining to the recipient’s approved request. All instances of program income must
be listed in the progress and financial reports.
The applicable DHS Standard Terms and Conditions will be those in effect at the time the
award was made, unless the application is for a continuation award. In that event, the terms and
conditions in effect at the time the original award was made will generally apply. What terms
and conditions will apply for the award will be clearly stated in the award package at the time of
award.
3. Reporting
a. Federal Financial Reporting Requirements
The recipient must submit a Form SF-425, Federal Financial Report (FFR), to the DHS
Grants Officer no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period end date. The
FFR is available online at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-awardreporting-forms.html. The FFR shall be submitted via GrantSolutions using the guidance
found here: www.grantsolutions.gov/support/public/pdf/FederalFinancialReportRecipientsFinalv2.pdf.
The Federal Financial Report (FFR) form is available online at: SF-425 OMB #4040-0014
b. Programmatic Performance Reporting Requirements
The recipient is required to submit quarterly performance reports to the USCIS Program
Office and the DHS Grants Officer within 30 days after the end of each quarter. Reports are
due January 30, April 30, July 30, and October 30. Reports must be submitted via the USCIS

24

GrantBook platform and GrantSolutions.gov using the guidance found here:
https://www.grantsolutions.gov/support/pdf/GrantRecipientProcessPerformanceProgessRepo
rt.pdf
Grant recipients must collect and report data on each program participant served with grant
funding, which may include:
1) Alien registration numbers. USCIS may use these numbers to track naturalization
outcomes during and after the period of performance;
2) Class of admission for program participants;
3) Countries of birth;
4) When specific services were provided, including:
• Dates integration plans were developed;
• Dates participants were enrolled in citizenship instruction courses;
• Dates when classes are held;
• Dates pre- and post- tests were conducted, and scores achieved;
• Classes attended, including the number of hours in class;
• Dates naturalization eligibility screenings were conducted; and
• Dates Forms N-400 and G-28 were filed.
5) Assessment data, including pre- and post-test scores;
6) Class proficiency levels;
7) Names of instructors(s) teaching each class;
8) Number of instructional hours provided per class;
9) Number of students enrolled per class; and
10) Number of N-400s filed to USCIS.
In addition to collecting these data, grant recipients must also provide quarterly narrative
reports. The narrative report may include questions on the following topics: program
accomplishments, progress meeting goals, progress of the sub-awardee organization (if
applicable), challenges in meeting goals, staff and/or organizational development
activities, student assessment and progress, outreach activities, volunteer recruitment and
training, staff changes, progress made toward DOJ accreditation, and promising practices.
These data are used to measure and track grantee performance and assess the success of
individual programs as well as the collective performance of all grantees. All grantee
performance data can be used to determine continued and future USCIS grant funding.
Grantees maybe invited to voluntarily participate in the NextGen development process by
providing feedback as USCIS builds out the tool in a way that would be useful to
stakeholders 7. Due to the grantees’ unique position in the CINAS program, any feedback they
are willing to offer would be valuable for the USCIS community.
c. Closeout Reporting Requirements

7

NextGen is an online tool for information acquisition.

25

Within 90 days after the end of the period of performance, or after an amendment has been
issued to close out a grant, recipients must submit the following:
1)
2)
3)
4)

The final request for payment, if applicable;
The final FFR (SF-425);
The final progress report detailing all accomplishments;
A qualitative narrative summary of the impact of those accomplishments throughout the
period of performance; and
5) Other documents required by this NOFO, terms and conditions of the award, or other
DHS FAO guidance.
After these reports have been reviewed and approved by the DHS Financial Assistance
Office, a closeout notice will be completed to close out the grant. The notice will indicate
the period of performance as closed, list any remaining funds that will be de-obligated, and
address the requirement of maintaining the grant records for three years from the date of
the final FFR, unless a longer period applies, such as due to an audit or litigation, for
equipment or real property used beyond the period of performance, or due to other
circumstances outlined in 2 C.F.R. §200.334, Retention Requirements for Records.

In addition, any recipient that issues subawards to any subrecipient is responsible for
closing out those subawards as described in 2 C.F.R. §200.344, Closeout. Recipients acting
as pass-through entities must ensure that they complete the closeout of their subawards in
time to submit all necessary documentation and information to DHS FAO during the
closeout of their prime grant award.
The recipient is responsible for returning any funds that have been drawn down but remain
as unliquidated on recipient financial records.
d. Disclosing Information per 2 C.F.R. §180.335
This reporting requirement pertains to disclosing information related to government-wide
suspension and debarment requirements. Before a recipient enters into a grant award with
DHS GFAD, the recipient must notify DHS GFAD if it knows if it or any of the recipient’s
principals under the award fall under one or more of the four criteria listed at 2 C.F.R. §
180.335:
1) Are presently excluded or disqualified;
2) Have been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in 2
C.F.R. § 180.800(a) or had a civil judgment rendered against it or any of the recipient’s
principals for one of those offenses within that time period;
3) Are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental
entity (federal, state, or local) with commission of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R.
§ 180.800(a); or
4) Have had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated within the
preceding three years for cause or default.
At any time after accepting the award, if the recipient learns that it or any of its principals

26

falls under one or more of the criteria listed at 2 C.F.R. § 180.335, the recipient must
provide immediate written notice to DHS GFAD in accordance with 2 C.F.R. § 180.350.
e. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance
Per 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix I § F.3, the additional post-award reporting requirements
in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, Appendix XII may apply to applicants who, if upon becoming
recipients, have a total value of currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and
procurement contracts from all federal awarding agencies that exceeds $10,000,000 for any
period of time during the period of performance of an award under this funding
opportunity. Recipients that meet these criteria must maintain current information reported
in FAPIIS about civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of
Appendix XII at the reporting frequency described in paragraph 4 of Appendix XII.
4. Monitoring and Oversight
Per 2 C.F.R. §200.329, DHS GFAD, through its authorized representatives, has the right, at all
reasonable times, to conduct desk reviews, make site visits to review project accomplishments
and management control systems to review project accomplishments and to provide any
required technical assistance. During site visits or desk reviews, DHS GFAD will review grant
recipients’ files related to the grant award. As part of any monitoring and program evaluation
activities, grant recipients must permit DHS GFAD, upon reasonable notice, to review grantrelated records and to interview the organization’s staff and contractors regarding the program.
Recipients must respond in a timely and accurate manner to DHS GFAD requests for
information relating to the grant program.
If the monitoring visit results in a determination that basic, minimum requirements as outlined
in the Notice of Funding Opportunity are not being met, DHS may require corrective actions
and/or initiate termination of the award.
5. Program Evaluation
Recipients and subrecipients are encouraged to incorporate program evaluation activities from
the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and measure
their progress towards the outcomes proposed. Title I of the Foundations for Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), Pub. L. No. 115-435 (2019) defines evaluation as “an
assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and
organizations intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency.” Evidence Act § 101
(codified at 5 U.S.C. § 311). Credible program evaluation activities are implemented with
relevance and utility, rigor, independence and objectivity, transparency, and ethics (OMB
Circular A-11, Part 6 Section 290).
Evaluation costs are allowable costs (either as direct or indirect), unless prohibited by statute or
regulation, and such costs may include the personnel and equipment needed for data
infrastructure and expertise in data analysis, performance, and evaluation. (2 C.F.R. §200).

27

In addition, recipients are required to participate in a DHS-led evaluation if selected, which may
be carried out by a third-party on behalf of the Program Office or DHS. By accepting grant
funds, recipients agree to participate in the evaluation, which may include analysis of individuals
who benefit from the grant, and provide access to program operating personnel and participants,
as specified by the evaluator(s) for six months after the period of performance.

G. DHS Awarding Agency Contact Information
1. Contact and Resource Information
USCIS Program Office (Office of Citizenship):
• Send all questions to [email protected].
• USCIS Office of Citizenship staff will respond within five business days.
DHS Grants Office: Send all questions to the Grants Officer at [email protected]

H. Additional Information
Applicants will obtain NOFO overviews and full announcement information from the Grants.gov
website where the full NOFO is posted. Applications will be processed through the Grants.gov
portal.
1. Period of Performance Extensions
Grantees may request a no-cost extension in order to complete all project activities. The
request must be submitted 45 days prior to the expiration of the performance period. Grantee
requests for extension will be evaluated based on performance to date and potential for meeting
programmatic requirements within the proposed extension period. Requests for extensions are
subject to approval by the DHS Grants and Financial Assistance Grants Officer.
2. Appendices
For information on additional required documents, and the format of the narrative application
please see Appendix A. For a list of citizenship program development resources, see Appendix
B. For definitions of frequently used terms in this NOFO, see the FY 2022 Glossary in
Appendix C.
Disclosure: Risk Assessment Evaluation
DHS staff will assess the risks to the program posed by each highly ranked applicant, including
conducting due diligence to ensure an applicant’s ability to manage federal funds. This risk
assessment is in addition to the evaluation of the applicant’s eligibility and the quality of its
application on the basis of the Selection Criteria, and results from this risk assessment may inform
funding decisions. This assessment may include a pre-award site visit, and organizations which have
not received prior DHS Grants and Financial Assistance Division (GFAD) awards may be required
to complete a risk assessment questionnaire as part of the pre-award financial and administrative
review. If an award is made, DHS may apply special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk

28

of the award.
In evaluating risk, DHS may consider the following:
• Financial stability;
• Quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards
prescribed in applicable OMB Guidance;
• Applicant’s record in managing previous DHS awards, cooperative agreements,
or procurement awards, including:
1. Timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements.
2. Accuracy of data reported.
3. Conformance to the terms and conditions of previous federal awards.
4. If applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be
expended prior to future awards.
5. Information available through OMB-designated repositories of government- wide
eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as: Federal
Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), UEI and SAM.
6. Reports and findings from single audits performed under Subpart F – Audit
Requirements, 2 C.F.R. Part 200 and findings and reports of any other available
audits.
7. Applicant organization’s annual report.
8. Publicly available information, including information from the applicant
organization's website.
9. Applicant’s ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other
requirements imposed on award recipients.
Applicant Disclosure of High-Risk Status
Applicants are to disclose if they are currently designated as high risk by a federal awarding
agency. This includes, but is not limited to, any status requiring additional oversight by a federal
awarding agency due to past programmatic, administrative, or financial concerns. If an applicant is
designated as high risk by a federal awarding agency, it should provide an explanation with the
application package and include the following information:
• The federal awarding agency that assigned the high-risk status;
• The federal awarding agency’s point of contact for the risk status, including
name, phone number and email address;
• Date of the risk status designation;
• Reason(s) for the risk status designation.
DHS seeks this information to ensure appropriate federal oversight of all grant awards. The
disclosure of an organization’s risk status does not disqualify it from receiving an award; however,
additional grant oversight may be required. If necessary, this information will be provided in the
award documentation. Failure to disclose high risk status may result in award termination or other
remedies.

29

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

APPENDIX A: ADDITIONAL REQUIRED FORMS
Complete the required forms in accordance with the application instructions on Grants.gov. If
submitting any information that is deemed proprietary, privileged or confidential, commercial
or financial, please denote the beginning and ending of such information with asterisks (***).
1. Form SF-424 – Application for Federal Assistance
This form must be completed within the application package on Grants.gov. You must
download and install Adobe Reader to view this form. Applicants are only required to
complete fields which are highlighted.
2.

Form SF-424A – Budget
This form must be completed within the application package on Grants.gov. You must
download and install Adobe Reader to view this form. Applicants are only required to
complete fields which are highlighted. Provide budget amounts by object class (personnel,
fringe benefits, travel, etc.). Include second year budget amounts in Section E. Funds may
be requested as long as the item and amount are necessary to perform the proposed work
and are not precluded by the cost principles or program funding restrictions.

3.

Certifications/Assurances
These forms must be completed within the application package on Grants.gov. You must
download and install Adobe Reader to view these forms. Applicants must submit:
a. Form SF-424B – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs; and
b. Certification Regarding Lobbying. If paragraph two of the certification applies, then
complete and submit SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying which is provided as an optional
form in the application package.
By signing and submitting an application under this announcement, the applicant is
providing: Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Certification
Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters – Primary Covered
Transactions; and Certification that the applicant is not delinquent on any federal debt.

4.

Project Abstract (5 pages maximum)
Provide the information requested below. Please address each question in the order
outlined in the table below. The project abstract must not include any proprietary or
confidential information. Attach the Project Abstract to the application package. 8

8

See the Grants.gov Applicant User Guide for instructions on how to attach forms and documents.

30

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
General Information
Complete the following table.
1.
Organization legal name
2.
Organization legal address (Number
and street, city, state, zip code)
3.
Head of the organization (Name, title,
address, phone number, email address)
4.
Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR), the person
at the organization authorized to
sign and receive award (Name,
title, address, phone number,
email address and website)
5.
Grant Project Manager, the person
who will manage operations of the
grant project and will serve as USCIS’
primary point of contact (Name,
title, address, phone number, email
address)
6.
Type of organization (e.g.,
community/faith-based
organization, public school,
adult education program, public
library)
7.
Total numbers organization is
proposing to serve with this grant:
• Students enrolled;
• Form N-400 screenings;
• Form N-400’s filed
8.
Annual Organizational Budget
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

Total federal funding requested (up to
$300,000)
Total federal funding allocated for
citizenship instructor salaries
Total federal funding allocated for
administrative costs
Total cost share (percentage of total
award amount requested; minimum
of 10% required)
Geographic area/community where
services will be provided
Congressional district (based on the
legal address of the applicant
organization)

31

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
15.

Number of full-time equivalents
(FTEs). Indicate the number of
intended grant-funded FTEs.
16.
Fees charged for citizenship instruction
(if applicable)
17.
Fees charged for naturalization
application services (if applicable)
18.
Is your organization or proposed subawardee DOJ recognized? (yes/no)
19.
List all employees who are
DOJ Accredited or attorneys
who will work on this grant
21.
List any grants received by the
applicant in the past three years
focused on adult education or services
to immigrants. Include:
• Awarding agency
• Date received
• Dollar amount
Sub-Awardee Organization(s) (if applicable)
If there are multiple sub-awardees, provide the below information for each.
22.
Sub-awardee organization legal
name
23.
Sub-awardee organization point of
contact (Name, title, address, phone
number and email address)
24.
Is the sub-awardee a non-profit or
public organization? If not, the subawardee is not eligible to receive
funding
25.
Sub-awardee type of organization
(e.g., community/faith-based
organization, public school, adult
education program, public library, etc.)
26.
Services proposed by sub-awardee
organization (legal services, education
services, or both)
27.
Total federal funds allocated for the
sub-awardee
5. Project Narrative (16 double-spaced page maximum)
In a separate document, provide a response for each item in the chart below following the
order listed. The items and attachments listed in each section below are required. Any
item or attachment that is omitted will result in points deducted.

32

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

Format Requirements
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Include the title “Project Narrative” at the top of the first page.
Ensure that the application can be printed on 8 ½” x 11” single-sided paper.
Use double line spacing.
Font size must be at least 12 point, preferably Times New Roman font.
Margins must be at least one (1) inch at the top, bottom, left and right of the paper.
Project narrative pages must be numbered “1” of “XX.”
Pages should be numbered consecutively and are limited to a total of 16 pages.
Do not include any marks from the “Track Changes” tool in your word
processing program.
Attach the completed Project Narrative to the application package.
Project Narrative Items

A. Citizenship Instruction Program
1. Experience and Community Need
•

•

•
•

The citizenship instruction provider’s recent experience providing ESL
instruction. (The description must distinguish if it is the applicant or sub-awardee
experience.) Include:
o Dates and total years of experience providing ESL instruction;
o The number of students enrolled in ESL classes in the past year and any previous
years;
o Name of the standardized test of English language proficiency used (such as
CASAS, BEST Plus 2.0, etc.);
o Experience administering the standardized test(s);
o The program’s pre- and post-test rates for the last program cycle, if applicable,
as well as the percentage of ESL students that demonstrated educational gains in
that same program cycle.
The citizenship instruction provider’s (must distinguish if it is the applicant or subawardee) recent experience providing citizenship instruction. Include the following:
o Dates and total years of experience providing citizenship instruction;
o The number of students enrolled in citizenship instruction in the past year and
any previous years;
o If available, the naturalization test pass rate for program participants; and
o The textbook and other resources used.
The particular immigrant population(s) that you currently serve with citizenship and
ESL instruction.
The need for citizenship instruction among the immigrant population that you
serve, including whether there are wait lists for citizenship instruction and/or ESL

33

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
instruction at your organization. Indicate whether there are other citizenship and ESL
instruction service providers in your area.

34

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

2. Proposed Goals for Enrollment, Testing, and Educational Gains
•
•
•
•

Explain how the proposed number of students to be served under the grant-funded program
is attainable based on your organization’s experience, past performance, and the proposed
budget.
Explain how the proposed goals for 1) the percentage of students to be pre- and posttested and 2) the percentage of students demonstrating educational gains are feasible
based on your organization’s experience, past performance, and proposed budget.
Describe the retention strategies employed or that will be employed to maintain a
satisfactory post-test rate. Describe the strategies employed or that will be employed to
assist students who are not making educational gains.
Indicate how many additional students will be served under the grant-funded program
that would otherwise not be served.

3. Program Administration
•
•
•
•
•

•

The outreach plan to raise awareness of program services, and recruit students.
The intake procedures, including how the organization will verify and document that
only lawfully present immigrants will receive services funded through this funding
opportunity.
The orientation process for new students.
The strategies you use to address barriers to student attendance (e.g., transportation,
childcare, student tuition, etc.), and include your organization’s attendance policy.
The proposed managed enrollment policy for the program, including whether students
will be permitted to enroll in grant-funded classes after the start of a class cycle (and if
so, the enrollment cut-off period). Include how the organization will accommodate
students who desire to attend classes after the registration period has closed. Note:
Programs may not enroll students after the third class.
The proposed plan for pivoting to virtual or hybrid services.

35

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

4. Class and Management Structure
•
•

•

A description of the specific nationally normed standardized test or test(s) that will be used
for the program to assess English language proficiency. 9 Please also describe when the
tests will be administered, and who will conduct the tests.
Grant recipients may use the USCIS developed Assessment of Adult Citizenship Education
(AACE) to measure civic knowledge, which will be provided upon funding. This is not
required but strongly encouraged as a means toward eventual establishment of a
nationally normed baseline for measuring civics education gains, in addition to Englishlanguage gains.
Complete the table below with information from the classes you are proposing for this
grant. We have provided sample information as a guide.

Name of
Class

Location

Days, Times

High
Beginning

Main
campus
Building A

Mondays and 10 weeks each
Wednesdays quarter/40 hours
6:00-8:00

•

Length/Total
Instructional Hours

Textbook

Instructor’s
Name

Citizenship
TomorrowAcme
Publishing
2019 27th
edition

Jill Brown

Provide a separate document as an attachment to the proposal summarizing your proposed
grant-funded citizenship program. 10 This document must include:
• A course abstract that provides a summary of the course or courses offered;
• Course learning objectives (for each course); and
• Textbook(s) and supplemental materials to be used.

9

The standardized tests that the Department of Education has determined to be suitable to assess English language proficiency as listed in
Federal Register Notice Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System.
10
For guidance on developing a citizenship curriculum, please review the USCIS Guide to Creating an Adult Citizenship Education Curriculum

36

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

5. Personnel
•

Using the below sample staff table as a template, please provide information on citizenship
instruction program staff. Please also provide resumes for each staff member included in
the chart.

Name

Title and Position
Description

Sample Staff Table
FTE
Relevant experience,
Paid or
Volunteer Charged to qualifications, and
Grant
training

Jill Brown Education Program
Coordinator – manages
Paid
adult education programs
•

•

0.5 FTE

TESOL degree, 5 years of
experience as a program
manager, 10 years of
experience teaching ESL

If applicable, explain how volunteers will be used for the citizenship instruction program.
Describe their roles and responsibilities, the training they will receive, and the reporting
structure. Volunteers must be managed by a paid lead instructor or a paid education
program coordinator.
If your organization only has one instructor on staff at the time of application, please
describe your organization’s contingency plan for the provision of citizenship instruction
in the event of staff turnover.

B. Naturalization Application Services Program
1. Experience and Community Need
•

•
•
•

The naturalization application services provider’s recent experience providing
naturalization application services within the authorized practice of immigration law.
Include:
o Dates and total years of experience;
o Whether the services were provided by attorneys or by DOJ accredited
representatives; and
o The number of immigrants served in the past year and any previous years.
Program achievements, including the organization’s record of filing successful
naturalization applications.
The particular immigrant population(s) that you serve with naturalization application
services.
The need for naturalization application services among the immigrant population that
you serve, including whether there are wait lists for services. Indicate whether there are
other naturalization application service providers in your area.

37

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

2. Attainable Naturalization Application Services Goals
•
•

Explain how the proposed number of naturalization participants to be served under the grantfunded program is feasible based on your organization’s experience, past performance, and the
proposed budget.
Indicate how many naturalization applications you intend to file in the next three years
with this grant funding that otherwise would not have been filed. Please reference your
program goals table attachment.

38

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

3. Program Administration
•
•
•

The coordinated outreach plan to raise awareness of services and recruit participants.
The intake procedures, including how the organization and sub-awardee (if applicable)
will verify and document that only lawfully present immigrants will receive services
funded through this funding opportunity, and who will conduct intake.
The proposed plan for pivoting to virtual or hybrid services.

4. Service Delivery and Case Management
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

The naturalization application services provided, including the forms filed on behalf of
clients.
The naturalization eligibility screening process and who will determine clients’
eligibility for naturalization.
How your organization handles complex cases.
The support provided to clients throughout the application process (i.e., from intake
until the oath ceremony).
How your organization prepares clients for the naturalization interview.
How your organization keeps clients informed of their case status.
Any plans to use grant funds to hold group application workshops, and if so, the process
for following up with those clients about their cases.

5. Personnel
•

The staffing structure for the proposed naturalization application services
program.
1. Provide a list of key personnel for the program. Key personnel include the project
manager(s), the DOJ accredited representative(s) and/or attorney(s), and any
additional case workers. Please also provide resumes for each listed staff member.
2. For each person, provide the following information, preferably in a table format:
a. Name, or indicate if the position is vacant. If the position is vacant,
provide a separate position description and target start date;
b. Title and brief position description;
c. Whether the position is paid or volunteer;
d. FTE charged to the grant;
e. Relevant experience, qualifications, and training. For the DOJ
accredited representative(s) and/or attorney(s), indicate the level of
experience providing naturalization application services; and
f. Indicate who will sign Form N-400 as the preparer and who will
sign the Form G- 28 in connection with all naturalization
applications filed under this grant.
39

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

See below for a sample staff table.

Name

Title and
Position
Description

Jim Smith DOJ accredited
representative –
provides
immigration
legal services to
clients

•

•

Sample Staff Table
Paid or
FTE
Relevant experience,
Volunteer charged
qualifications, and
to grant
training
Paid

0.3 FTE

Accredited for 5 years,
3 years of experience with
naturalization application
services

If your organization has only one staff member that is DOJ accredited or an attorney,
please describe your organization’s contingency plan for the provision of naturalization
application services in the event of staff turnover. You may use grant funds to cover costs
associated with the DOJ accreditation of additional staff members.
If applicable, explain how volunteers will be used for the naturalization application
services program. Describe their qualifications, roles and responsibilities, the training
they will receive, and the reporting structure.

C. Integration of Services
• The plan to provide integrated citizenship preparation services so that program
participants are aware of the full range of grant-funded services and can easily access
both types of services (instruction and naturalization application assistance).
Indicate who will coordinate both components of the grant program and ensure that
outreach, intake, and services are conducted in an integrated manner.
• The communications plan for maintaining regular contact between the service
providers, including how often meetings will take place and in what manner (by phone
or in-person).
• The cross-referral process between the citizenship instruction provider(s) and the
naturalization application services provider(s).
• Plans for a coordinated data collection system, including how the organization and
sub-awardee (if applicable) will track and report on services provided and whether
students and clients naturalize. Explain the system used for tracking data.
• If a sub-awardee is proposed, describe the applicant’s history working with
the sub-awardee organization. Describe the applicant’s plan for managing the
sub- awardee’s performance and maintaining frequent communication with
the sub- awardee.

40

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents

6.

Project Narrative Attachments
NOTE: The attachments will not count toward the page limit for the Project
Narrative. These items should be attached to the application package.
a.

7.

Attach résumés and/or position descriptions (if the position is vacant) for all
key personnel, including program managers and coordinators, instructors (paid
and volunteer), attorneys and/or DOJ accredited representatives, and other legal
support staff. Résumés must include all relevant job experience, education, and
licensure or accreditation with corresponding dates.

b.

Organizational chart for the applicant and any proposed sub-awardee(s).

c.

If you propose a sub-awardee, the applicant must include a signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the organizations as a
required attachment to the grant application. The MOU should include the
responsibilities expected of each party, performance expectations, plans for
maintaining communication, and the payment and/or reimbursement process for
the sub-awardee(s). The MOU should be signed by both parties and dated.

Program Goals
Provide the following goals for grant-funded services in a table format. Include the total
number over the 2-year period, as well as a breakdown by quarter. There are 8 quarters over
the 2-year performance period and each quarter is 3 months long.
Goal
1. Number of newly enrolled (nonduplicated) immigrants to enroll in
citizenship instruction classes

Q1

Q2

2. Percentage of enrolled students who
post-test (Minimum 80%)
3. Percentage of post-tested students
demonstrating measurable educational
gains (Minimum 80%)
4. Number of immigrants for whom your
organization will provide naturalization
eligibility screenings

41

Q3

Q4

Q5

Q6

Q7

Q8

Total

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
5. Number of immigrants for whom your
organization will prepare and file Form
N-400 and Form G- 28

8.

USCIS Quarterly Feedback Report (Current or Past Grant Recipients Only)
If USCIS awarded your organization with a Citizenship and Integration Grant anytime within the years
2012-2020, please provide a copy of the most recent quarterly feedback report.
Note: This is an example of a FY 2021 USCIS feedback report. Please be sure to include your full
feedback report, not just the example shown below.

9.

Budget Table and Narrative
When proposing costs for this grant program, ensure that the budget shows a reasonable balance
of costs between the citizenship instruction program and the naturalization application services
program.
If a sub-awardee is proposed, applicants must provide a separate sub-awardee budget narrative
and table following the same format and with the same level of detail as that of the applicant
42

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
(i.e., by Object Class Category/Cost Classification). Each sub- awardee budget and supporting
detail should be separate from the applicant’s budget narrative.
If any fees are proposed that will result in program income, show in the budget how this income
will be used to support the program.
Budget Table
Provide your budget request in a table format in addition to the budget narrative. Include all
budget categories, as listed in the budget narrative section. Under each category list the line
items requested. See sample table below. Note: This sample table shows the Personnel category
only. Applicants must provide information on all budget categories.
Year 1

Category and Item

Year 2

Total

InKind

DHS

Total

Inkind

DHS

Total

Inkind

DHS Total

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

$X

1. Personnel
J. Smith, Program Manager
– 1 FTE
B. Diaz, Instructor – 0.5
FTE
L. Santiago, Attorney – 1
FTE
K. Brown, Assistant – 0.25
FTE
TOTAL Personnel

The Budget Table may be provided either in the same document as the budget narrative or
attached to the application package.
Budget Narrative (Five-page limit)
Attach your budget narrative (including separate budget narratives for each proposed subawardee) to the application package. Please limit the information provided in this section to
budget relevant information only.
Include costs for the first and second performance years. Separate the first performance year
costs from the second performance year costs. Show a total of all requested federal grant
funds. This total should match the total listed on the project abstract. Budget categories b – h
below should add up to this total. This total should not include any in-kind costs. The in-kind
contribution total should be listed separately.
Provide budget information in the order listed below. Budget detail is required for:
43

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
a. In-Kind Costs: The dollar value of non-cash donations to the project. These
donations may be in the form of space, supplies, salaries, etc. The costs should be
calculated at the verifiable fair-market value.
b. Personnel: Costs of employee salaries and wages. For each staff person, provide the
name (if known), title, time commitment to the project as a percentage of a full-time
equivalent (FTE), annual salary, and grant-funded salary. Do not include the costs of
consultants. Consultants are to be included under “Contractual.”
c. Fringe Benefits: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as part of an
approved indirect cost rate. Provide the method used to calculate the proposed rate
amount. If a fringe benefit has been negotiated with, or approved by, a cognizant
federal agency, attach a copy of the negotiated fringe benefit agreement. If no
rate agreement exists, provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages that
comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, retirement insurance,
taxes, etc. Identify the base for allocating these fringe benefit expenses. (Attach the
agreement to the application package.)
d. Travel: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the applicant organization and/or
sub-awardees (do not include costs of sub-contractor or consultant travel). For each
proposed trip, provide the purpose, number of travelers, travel origin and destination,
number of days, and a breakdown of costs for airfare, lodging, meals, car rental, and
incidentals. The basis for the airfare, lodging, meals, car rental, and incidentals must be
provided, such as past trips, current quotations, Federal Travel Regulations, etc. Foreign
travel is not permitted.
e. Equipment: Any article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a
useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the
lesser of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization for financial
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. For each type of equipment requested, provide a
description of the equipment, the cost per unit, the number of units, the total cost, and
a plan for use on the project, as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the
project ends. An applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment
should provide a copy of its policy or section of its policy which includes the
equipment definition.
NOTE 1: Acquisition cost means the net invoice unit price of an item of equipment,
including the cost of any modifications, attachments, accessories, calibration and
maintenance services, or auxiliary apparatus necessary to make it usable for the
purpose for which it is acquired. Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective
in-transit insurance, freight, and installation must be included in or excluded from
acquisition cost in accordance with the organization's regular written accounting
practices.
NOTE 2: Before purchasing equipment in the amount of $5,000 or more per unit
cost, the Recipient must obtain the written approval from DHS. For equipment
44

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
purchased with grant funds (or received under a grant) and having a $5,000 or more
per unit cost, the Recipient must maintain an annual inventory, which will include a
brief description of the item, serial number, and amount of purchase. The inventory
must also identify the sub-award under which the equipment was purchased.
Maintenance and insurance will be the responsibility of the Recipient. Title of
equipment will remain with the Recipient until closeout when disposition will be
provided in writing by DHS within 120 days of submission of final reports.
f.

Supplies: Costs of all tangible personal property other than that included in the
equipment category. Specify general categories of supplies and their costs. Show
computations and provide other information which supports the amount requested.
Grantees should calculate the cost of assessments as well as printing the USCIS
required assessment.

g. Contractual: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except for those that
belong under other categories such as equipment, supplies, construction, etc. Include
third party evaluation contracts (if applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient
organizations.
Demonstrate that all procurement transactions will be conducted in a manner to
provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free competition. Identify
proposed sub-contractor work and the cost of each sub-contractor. Provide a detailed
budget for each sub-contractor that is expected to perform work estimated to be
$25,000 or more, or 50% of the total work effort, whichever is less.
• Identify each planned subcontractor and its total proposed budget. Each
subcontractor's budget and supporting detail should be included as part of the
applicant's budget narrative.
• Provide the following information for each planned subcontract: a brief
description of the work to be subcontracted; the number of quotes solicited
and received, if applicable; the cost or price analysis performed by the
applicant; names and addresses of the subcontractors tentatively selected
and the basis for their selection; e.g., unique capabilities (for sole source
subcontracts), low bidder, delivery schedule, technical competence; type of
contract and estimated cost and fee or profit; and, affiliation with the
applicant, if any.
• Recipient may be required to make pre-award review and procurement
documents available to DHS, including request for proposals or invitations
for bids, independent cost estimates, etc. This may include procurements
expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. §
403(11) (currently set at $100,000) and expected to be awarded without
competition or only one bid or offer is received in response to a solicitation.
• All required flow down provisions in the award must be included in any
subcontract.
NOTE: Applicants may propose a sub-contract for specific tasks, such as
hiring additional citizenship instructors on a contractual basis.
However, the applicant must demonstrate its ability to successfully manage
45

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
all aspects of the grant-funded project, including financial management.
Private law firms and attorneys in private practice are not eligible to
receive funding under this funding opportunity.
h. Other Direct Costs: Any other items proposed as direct costs. Provide an itemized
list with costs and state the basis for each proposed item.
Attach a copy of the latest indirect cost rate agreement negotiated with a cognizant
federal agency. If the applicant is in the process of initially developing or renegotiating a
rate, upon notification that an award will be made, it should immediately develop a
tentative indirect cost rate proposal based on its most recently completed fiscal year, in
accordance with the cognizant agency's guidelines for establishing indirect cost rates and
submit it to the cognizant agency. Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost
proposals may also request indirect costs. When an indirect cost rate is requested, those
costs included in the indirect cost pool should not also be charged as direct costs to the
award. If the applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under the
program, the authorized representative of the applicant organization must submit a
signed acknowledgement that the applicant is accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Any non-federal entity that has never received a negotiated indirect cost rate (except for
those non-federal entities described in Appendix VII to Part 200 States and Local
Government and Indian Tribe Indirect Cost Proposals, paragraph D.1.b) may elect to
charge a de minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC) which may be
used indefinitely. As described in §200.403 Factors Affecting Allowability of Costs,
costs must be consistently charged as either indirect or direct costs but may not be
double charged or inconsistently charged as both. If chosen, this methodology once
elected must be used consistently for all federal awards until such time as a non-federal
entity chooses to negotiate for a rate, which the non-federal entity may apply to do at
any time. For more information, see 2 CFR Part 200.414.
10. Documentation of Non-profit and/or Public Status
The applicant and any proposed sub-awardee must provide documentation of non- profit and/or
public status. Any of the following constitutes acceptable proof of non- profit status:
a. A reference to the applicant organization’s listing in the Internal Revenue Service’s
(IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of
the IRS Code.
b. A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
c. A statement from a state taxing body, State attorney general, or other appropriate
State official certifying that the applicant organization has a non- profit status and
that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
d. A certified copy of the organization’s certificate of incorporation or similar
document that clearly establishes non-profit status.
e. Any of the items in the subparagraphs immediately above for a State or national
parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the
applicant organization is a local non-profit affiliate.
46

Appendix A: Additional Required Documents
f.

A signed statement on official letterhead by an official authorized to apply for grant
funds on behalf of the public entity will suffice.

Attach documentation of non-profit and/or public status to the application package.

47

APPENDIX B: USCIS Resources for Citizenship Education Programs
Educators and volunteers play a critical role in helping immigrants prepare for U.S. citizenship. The
USCIS Citizenship Resource Center provides an array of resources and materials to support educators
and programs working to prepare immigrants for the naturalization process. Below are a few key
resources that all programs should be familiar with. For a full list of resources, please visit the
Citizenship Resource Center at www.uscis.gov/citizenship.
USCIS Adult Citizenship Education Program Development Guide: Building an Adult Citizenship
Program
This program development guide outlines a step-by-step process to create or sustain an adult
citizenship education program and includes products and resources from U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) for use at each stage of program development
Elements of Program Quality for Adult Citizenship Education
This document provides a general framework for preparing permanent residents for the civics and
English components of the naturalization interview and test.
USCIS Guide to Creating an Adult Citizenship Education Curriculum
This guide assists adult education program administrators and teachers in developing a citizenship
curriculum and thematic lessons, choosing textbooks and supplemental materials, and creating
effective learning activities.
Adult Citizenship Education Sample Curriculum for a High Beginning ESL Level Course
This publication outlines the components, structure, and process involved with creating an adult
citizenship education curriculum.
Additional Citizenship Education Resources:
•

Resources for Educators About the Naturalization Process

•

Prepare Students for the Interview and Test

•

Learn New Teaching Techniques

•

Start a Citizenship Program

•

Promote a Citizenship Program

•

Train and Develop Staff

48

APPENDIX C: FY 2022 CINAS Grant Glossary
TERM

DEFINITION

Attorney

Any person who is eligible to practice law in and is a member in good
standing of the bar of the highest court of any state, possession, territory,
or commonwealth of the United States, or of the District of Columbia,
and is not under any order suspending, enjoining, restraining, disbarring,
or otherwise restricting him or her in the practice of law. See 8 CFR Part
1.2.

Authorized practice of
immigration law

Occurs when an authorized and qualified individual or organization
provides accurate and current legal advice on immigration-related
matters. Typically, this is limited to DOJ-accredited representatives who
work for DOJ-recognized organizations or to an attorney who is a
member in good standing of the bar of a U.S. state. See 8 CFR Part 292, 8
CFR Part 103.2(a)(3), and 8 CFR Part 1.2.

Class cycle

The time period, such as a term or semester, when classes are held on a
frequent or regular basis. This time period has a beginning and end date.

Cognizant federal
agency

Defined by 48 CFR 2.101 as the Federal agency that, on behalf of all
Federal agencies, is responsible for establishing final indirect cost rates
and forward pricing rates, if applicable, and administering cost
accounting standards for all contracts in a business unit.

Cost sharing

The portion of the project or program costs not covered by the federal
government. Cost sharing occurs when a grant recipient contributes its
own financial, human, or material resources towards achieving grant
program objectives. Any organization planning to offer cost sharing
should include the proposed contribution in its proposed budget and
clearly label the resource as a cost sharing contribution. For more
information, see 2 CFR Part 215.

Direct costs

Costs that can be identified specifically with a particular sponsored
project or an institutional activity, or easily assigned to activities with a
high degree of accuracy. Examples include the salaries of staff assigned
to a specific project, materials and supplies, and travel. For more
information, see 2 CFR Part 200.413.

DOJ accreditation

A program allowing a specially qualified non-lawyer to represent
noncitizens on behalf of a recognized organization.
Please refer to the links below for additional information:

TERM

DEFINITION
Recognition of Organizations and Accreditation of Non-Attorney
Representatives
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/recognition-and-accreditation-program

DOJ-accredited
representative

A representative is “accredited” when the Executive Office for
Immigration Review’s (EOIR) Office of Legal Access Programs gives
permission to a specially qualified non-lawyer to represent noncitizens on
behalf of a recognized organization. There are two kinds of accreditation:
“partial” and “full.” A partially accredited representative may represent
noncitizens before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) only. A
fully accredited representative may represent noncitizens before both
DHS and EOIR, which includes the immigration courts and the Board of
Immigration Appeals (BIA).

DOJ-recognized
organization (DOJ
recognition)

A nonprofit organization that has permission from the Executive Office
for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) Office of Legal Access Programs to
practice immigration law through accredited representatives.
An organization is “recognized” when the Office of Legal Access
Programs gives a non-profit organization in the United States permission
to practice immigration law through accredited representatives before
DHS only (partial accreditation) or DHS and EOIR (full accreditation).
EOIR includes the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration
Appeals (BIA). By regulation, a nonprofit, federal tax-exempt, religious,
charitable, social service, or similar organization established in the United
States that has been approved for recognition is called a recognized
organization.
Visit the DOJ’s Recognition and Accreditation Program page to learn
how an organization can apply for recognition and accreditation.

Employee

A person who provides services to an employer in exchange for
compensation and who does not provide these services as part of an
independent business. The term does not include board members or
contracted individuals. The following factors of a job arrangement may
indicate that an individual is an employee:
a. The employer pays the individual;
b. The employer may fire the individual;
c. The employer provides the individual with tools or equipment and
a place to work;
d. The employer trains the individual;
e. The individual is required to follow the employer’s instructions;

TERM

Employer

EOIR

Form G-28, Notice of
Entry of Appearance as
Attorney or Accredited
Representative

DEFINITION
f. The employer sets or can set the individual’s work hours;
g. The employer restricts the individual from working for others; and
h. Other applicable factors.
In the context of this notice of funding opportunity, an employer is an
organization with public or non-profit status that has the ability to hire,
pay, fire, supervise, or otherwise control the work of an employee.
An abbreviation for the Executive Office for Immigration Review
(EOIR), which is an agency within the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, immigration judges
and the Board of Immigration Appeals, EOIR’s appellate component,
interprets and adjudicates immigration cases according to United States
immigration laws. Within EOIR, the Office of Legal Access Programs
administers the program that grants recognition to organizations and
accreditation of their representatives.
The form that attorneys and accredited representatives use to provide
information establishing their eligibility to appear and act on behalf of an
applicant, petitioner, or respondent before USCIS. Form G-28 is available
at uscis.gov/g-28.

Form N-400,
Application for
Naturalization

The form used to apply for U.S. citizenship. Form N-400 is available at
uscis.gov/n-400.

Form N-648, Medical
Certification for
Disability Exceptions

The form for applicants who seek an exception to the English and civics
testing requirements for naturalization because of physical or
developmental disability or mental impairment. Form N-648 is available
at uscis.gov/n-648.

Fringe benefits

Allowances and services provided by employers to their employees as
compensation in addition to regular salaries and wages.

Fringe benefit rate

The value of fringe benefits expressed as a percentage of salary.
Calculate the dollar amount by applying the appropriate fringe benefit
percentage rate to each employee’s salary to be charged to the project.
For more information, see OMB Circular A-21, OMB Circular A-87, or
OMB Circular A-122.

Fringe benefit rate
agreement

An agreement that has been approved by a cognizant federal agency
(usually the agency that provides the most funding to the grant recipient)
that establishes the rate at which an organization will request
reimbursement for fringe benefits under the grant program.

TERM

DEFINITION

FY

An abbreviation for fiscal year. The federal government’s fiscal year runs
from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

Indirect costs

Common or joint costs that cannot be readily and specifically identified
with one particular project or any other institutional activity. Examples
include utilities, general office supplies, and salaries of staff that support
multiple programs and initiatives.

Indirect cost rate
agreement

An agreement that establishes the rate at which an organization will
request reimbursement for indirect costs incurred during the day-to-day
operations of a federal grant program.

In-kind contribution

The value of non-cash contributions (such as property or services) that:
1. Benefit a federally assisted project or program; and
2. Are provided for free by non-federal third parties to a recipient,
sub-recipient, or cost-type contractor under the award.

Legal advice

A legal opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action and based
on applying the law to a given set of facts.

Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU)

A formal agreement between parties that defines each party’s rights and
responsibilities.

National Reporting
System (NRS)

An outcome-based reporting system developed by the U.S. Department of
Education for state-administered, federally funded adult education
programs. For more information, see this list of NRS test benchmarks for
educational functioning levels.

Nationally normed
standardized
assessment test

In the context of citizenship instruction, this refers to specific tests used
to determine a student’s English language proficiency. The Department of
Education has a list of approved standardized tests.

Naturalization
application services

Legal services, provided within the scope of the authorized practice of
immigration law, that help immigrants go through the naturalization
application and interview process. Services may include naturalization
eligibility screening, legal advice, Form N-400 preparation and
submission, and interview preparation.

Naturalization
eligibility screening

A systematic assessment conducted by an attorney or BIA-accredited
representative to determine if an individual is eligible to apply for U.S.
citizenship. Eligibility screenings include legal advice.

TERM

DEFINITION

Non-duplicated
citizenship students

A student enrolled in a grant-funded citizenship class for the first time. A
program cannot count a student as newly enrolled more than once during
the grant performance period, even if the student enrolls in multiple
classes.

Nonprofit organization

Any corporation, trust, association, cooperative or other organization
which:
a. Operates primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable
or similar purposes in the public interest;
b. Is not organized primarily for profit; and
c. Uses its net proceeds to maintain, improve and/or expand its
operations.

Non-responsive
application

An application that does not meet one or more of the requirements listed
under Eligibility Information – Non-Responsive Applications in the
notice of funding opportunity. We will not review applications that are
non-responsive.

Partner organization

Grant applicants may include a partner organization in their proposal. The
partner may provide a portion of the direct services or some other
contribution to the applicant’s proposed grant project. A partner
organization is considered a “sub-awardee” if the organization will
receive a portion of the grant funding to provide additional or
complementary direct services. The partner organization may provide
citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, or both.

Performance period

The performance period is a set amount of time, as determined by the
awarding agency, in which the grant recipient is able to access grant
funds and perform all grant-related tasks. The performance period for the
FY 2022 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program is two years.

Private practice

To engage in one’s profession as an independent provider rather than as
an employee.

Pro bono attorney

An attorney who provides legal services voluntarily and without payment
as a public service.

Quarter

There are four quarters in a fiscal year. The quarterly dates are as follows:
Quarter 1: October 1 to December 31
Quarter 2: January 1 to March 31

TERM

DEFINITION
Quarter 3: April 1 to June 30
Quarter 4: July 1 to September 30

Representation

Includes “practice” and “preparation” as defined in 8 CFR Part 1.2.

Sub-awardee

A partner organization that receives a portion of grant funds from the
grant recipient in order to provide direct citizenship preparation services.
There must be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the
applicant and sub-awardee. The sub-awardee must also have a UEI
number.

Subcontract

A legal contract in which the grant recipient hires an individual, business
or organization to do a specific task or set of tasks. Subcontracting is
permitted under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, but
applicants may only propose a subcontract for specific tasks, such as
hiring additional citizenship instructors on a contractual basis. Applicants
may not enter into a subcontract with a private attorney. Applicants must
demonstrate their ability to successfully manage all aspects of the grantfunded project, including financial management.

Unique Entity Identifier A unique nine-character identification number requested in, and assigned
(UEI)
by, the System for Award Management (Sam.gov). Organizations must
request a UEI prior to applying for this funding opportunity.