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ACF/ORR issues $258M NOFO for Home Study and Post‑Release Services; applications due June 23, 2026
Summary
The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Refugee Resettlement released a NOFO (HHS-2026-ACF ORR-ZU-0019) offering $258M across an anticipated 15 awards; presenters emphasized UEI/SAM registration, formatting rules, disqualification factors, scoring criteria, and required forms.
Barry Milford, Project Officer with ORR, walked applicants through Grants.gov navigation, application requirements, and NOFO specifics for the Home Study and Post‑Release Services funding opportunity (HHS‑2026‑ACF ORR‑ZU‑0019).
Milford read key NOFO identifiers and deadlines: publication date May 22, 2026; application due June 23, 2026; anticipated award date September 29, 2026. He said the NOFO lists an estimated total of $258 million, with an expected 15 awards, an award ceiling of $50 million and a floor of $1 million. The anticipated project start date and the NoA terms are September 29, 2026; the project period is five years with five one‑year budget periods.
Milford emphasized registration requirements: all applicants must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration prior to applying, and SAM registrations must be renewed every 365 days. "No grant award will be made to an application or applicant without a UEI and an active SAM registration," he said.
He outlined submission requirements and reviewer practices: recommended PDF format, maximum of 200 combined pages for Files 1 and 2, specified fonts and spacing (project narrative double‑spaced), required federal forms (SF‑424, SF‑424A, SFLLL), and a prohibition on external links because reviewers score only what is in the application. Applicants were warned that extra files, illegible pages, or pages exceeding limits will be removed prior to merit review.
Milford reviewed eligibility and disqualifying factors: the opportunity is broadly open (including faith‑based organizations) but excludes individuals/sole proprietors, federal or foreign entities, paper submissions without an approved exemption, and requests above the award ceiling. He also listed required attachments such as an indirect cost agreement and legal proof of for‑profit or small business status.
Pedro Rodriguez explained the two‑part review: initial responsiveness screening followed by a merit review panel that scores Purpose and Need (40 points), Response (40 points), Impact (20 points) and Resources/Capabilities (25 points) for a maximum of 125 points; applicants will be notified of disqualification within 30 days of the application deadline. Rodriguez reminded applicants that the Notice of Award (NoA) is the only official award document and that pre‑award costs are incurred at the applicant’s risk.
The presenters closed by directing prospective applicants to ORR’s website, the NOFO PDF on Grants.gov, ORR policy guidance (Sections 2 and 6), fact sheets, and the Grants Award page for additional details and resources.
