The Uniform Project Description (UPD) is standard language and sections available for use by Administration for Children and Families (ACF) program offices to solicit the required project description and project budget information from applicants for specific funding opportunities. Applications are required for project grants and cooperative agreements as prescribed by HHS regulations 45 CFR § 75.203. The UPD provides a selection of text options for the program offices to choose from, which are used to communicate the application requirements for a specific grant or cooperative agreement notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), as required by 45 C.F.R. § 75.203, and Appendix I to Part 75 â Full Text of Notice of Funding Opportunity.
The UPD is fundamental to ACFâs competitive award process. It ensures the provision of adequate information to support award decisions. The ability to select the appropriate standard language for a given NOFO reduces the burden of application preparation, by eliminating unnecessary portions of the application for a given announcement. In addition, it provides for consistency and objectivity in the application and review processes required by 45 C.F.R. § 75.204.
In March 2023, ACF obtained approval for the current ACF Uniform Project Description (UPD) (OMB expiration date: March 31, 2026). A subsequent nonsubstantive change request was approved in October 2023 to allow for an alternate, simplified version of the UPD to be piloted with 25 NOFOs. The pilot effort, which was part of the HHS SimplerGrants, SimplerNOFOs Initiative, was successful and ACF would like to expand use of the simplified version in 2025.
US Code:
31 USC 6301
Name of Law: General Assistance Administration
This nonsubstantive change request is to increase the number of NOFOs using the streamlined version of the UPD. Burden estimates based on evaluation of the SimplerNOFO Pilot of the streamlined UPD has shown a decrease in burden hours resulting in an overall reduction in burden and costs to respondents. The feedback also provided a more accurate estimate for the traditional UPD and estimates have been updated to reflect this.
Additionally, this non-substantive change request includes:
⢠Updates to language impacted by the recent updates to 2 CFR 200 and HHSâs implementation of that regulation
⢠Additional updates to provide better flow and additional plain language principles.
⢠Moving the highly detailed budget and budget justification section within the traditional UPD to the web in line with the streamlined UPD.
The burden has been updated to reflect the currently estimated number of applications in FY2023-2026.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 2 Streamlined Uniform Project Description (UPD)
NonSub Change Request - ACF UPD 2024revised.docx
Streamlined Uniform Project Description (UPD)