Immigrant Legal Support Program 25-444-80-3403-01

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name Division of Family and Community Services (FCS), Office of Welcoming Centers for Refugee and Immigrant Services
Agency Contact
Announcement Type Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title Immigrant Legal Support Program
Funding Opportunity Number 25-444-80-3403-01
Application Posting Date July 1, 2024
Application Closing Date July 31, 2024
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-80-3403
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name Immigrant Legal Support Program
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) N/A
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) N/A
Award Funding Source State
Estimated Total Program Funding $12 million
Anticipated Number of Awards One award to a prime grantee
Award Range To be determined based on available funding
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement No
Indirect Costs Allowed Yes
Restrictions on Indirect Costs See GATA rules and regulations
Technical Assistance Session
Letter of Intent
NOFO/Application Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • Submit Questions to: Clare.Sigelko@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov
  • Due date for submitting questions: Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 5:00 pm CST. FAQs will be updated frequently, and a final, complete list will be posted to the IDHS website Thursday, July 25, 2024.

A. Program Description

  1. Program Summary

    • This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been issued with the aim of facilitating the provision of legal services to the community through an intermediary model with a prime grantee. As part of the application process, the prime grantee will be required to demonstrate their commitment to expanding legal services to the community by collaborating with multiple sub-recipients/partners.
    • To that end, the prime grantee will be expected to identify community-based organizations with a proven track record of providing the proposed legal services and provide a brief description of the subgrantees' legal program track record. The prime grantee must also submit a list of subrecipients that they intend to fund under this grant and include a letter of partnership from each subgrantee. This approach is designed to promote greater collaboration among community-based organizations and provide legal assistance to underserved communities.

      1. Program Overview

        • This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to establish the Immigrant Legal Support Program (ILSP) in FY25. The program aims to bolster immigration legal services and meet the growing needs of the immigrant population in Illinois in a manner that responds to the existing resource constraints legal providers face. The program is designed to provide comprehensive immigration legal services at scale. The program consists of four integral components, which are as follows:
          1. Scalable Intake and Screening
          2. Workshops 
          3. Legal Aid and Information Resources 
          4. Referral Networks
            • By incorporating these components into a centralized program, IDHS is committed to streamlining the processes to enhance access to legal services and foster collaboration among stakeholders to address the changing needs of immigrant communities effectively.

      2. Program Goals, and Objectives

        • The proposed IDHS FY25 Immigrant Legal Support Program framework will be centered on four integral components:
          1. Invest in scalable intake and screening models. Such models can more efficiently identify legal needs, connect clients to appropriate services, and strengthen collaboration across different service providers while reducing duplication of effort. These options may include:
              1. Centralized Hotlines
              2. Digital Screening Tools
              3. Mobile Intake Units
              4. Training Community Partners on Suitable Referrals
            • The primary focus is to furnish applicants with the outcomes of their screenings and associated referrals, which they can utilize to manage their immigration cases effectively. These measures aim to streamline legal aid responses and facilitate more equitable access to legal services.
          2. Establish pro se or pro bono workshops that offer technical assistance and application support for immigrants identified as eligible for remedies through screenings. These workshops should be conducted regularly and at a scale that meets the demand. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other legal service organizations in the design, development of procedures and materials, and staffing of these workshops. Such collaborations can leverage collective expertise and resources to enhance the quality and reach of the workshops.
            • Grantees must be prepared to provide immigrants with pro se and pro bono workshops or clinic opportunities and provide technical assistance based on the workshop or clinic for multiple types of immigration remedies including, but not limited to:
              • Change of Venue
              • Change of Address
              • Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
              • Employment Authorization (EAD)
              • Asylum 
              • Humanitarian Parole and Re-Parole
              • Permanent Resident Application (I-485)
              • These workshops will also support collaboration with local community organizations, religious institutions, and cultural centers to reach a wider audience.
          3. Strengthen legal aid by expanding access to legal consultations, limited-scope legal services, and access to reputable information resources. IDHS seeks to ensure that immigrants/refugees/asylum seekers/humanitarian parolees know about legal benefits and assist those eligible to obtain them. To effectively meet the needs of the growing immigrant population at scale, the program will support an expansion of limited-scope legal aid services and information resources.
            • Limited scope services should provide generalized legal assistance not rising to the level of representation such as:
              • Screening
              • Consultation
              • Referral
              • Document review
              • Case review
              • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
              • Requests for Evidence
              • Brief Services (time limited services - beyond advice and consultation - that can include application preparation, writing new pleadings, letter drafting, and other forms)
              • Representation in administrative proceedings
            • Information resources should help immigrants overcome common barriers to accessing reputable legal information and provide meaningful, actionable guidance to clients. Resources can include: information hubs, help desks, fact sheets, self-help guides, videos, or resource libraries.
          4. Strengthen referral services by establishing referral policies and collaborating with existing referral networks. This program is designed to address barriers and lack of information about legal services that prevent eligible immigrants/refugees/asylum seekers and humanitarian parolees from legal representation and services. IDHS seeks to ensure that immigrants/refugees/asylum seekers/humanitarian parolees know about legal benefits and opportunities for assistance. The program will collaborate with existing referral networks of community-based organizations to connect individuals and families to immigration service providers, community partners, government agencies, and pro bono attorneys with applicants who are screened through the program or walk-ins. Collaboration with existing service providers is encouraged to develop referral policies which promote effective hand-offs and follow-ups to minimize downstream impacts on providers, while ensuring that individuals seeking immigration services receive the necessary support and guidance.
            • To ensure capacity among legal service organizations to expand services and accept referrals, this program can allow for cases to be seen through case completion, including direct representation when appropriate. Cases identified for case completion cannot be supported by any other state funded programs during this program period. At least 50% of cases should be identified through this program's activities, all other cases should have been identified through previous IDHS programming or other established referral channels.

      3. Expected Performance Goals, Indicators, Targets, Outcomes, Baseline Data, and Data Collection

        1. Data Collection
          • The prime grantee will be expected to collect data from subgrantee(s) on program activities, client demographics, and outcomes for the purposes of ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Summary data should be made available regularly to the state, subgrantees, and program partners to ensure effective collaboration.
        2. Performance Indicators
          • To ensure the program meets desired objectives, the prime grantee will be required to set goals for performance indicators. Performance indicators will include:
            1. Screening
              1. Total number of unduplicated screenings conducted
            2. Workshops
              1. Number of workshop events held
              2. Number of unduplicated individuals served
              3. Number of applications completed by type
              4. Number of consultations conducted 
              5. Number of referrals made
            3. Legal Aid and Information Resources
              1. Number of individuals given legal consultations
              2. Number of cases reviewed
              3. Number of clinics held 
              4. Number of individuals served at clinics
              5. Number of unduplicated individuals served
              6. Number of individuals provided resources
            4. Referral networks
              1. Number of referrals made
              2. Number of unduplicated cases taken to case completion*
              3. Number of organizations participating in referral network
                •  *Note: 50% of the clients under this service must be identified through this program's activities.
        3. Performance Standards

          • Prime grantee is expected to uphold rigorous performance standards for subgrantee(s), including high client service rates, active participation in training initiatives, and timely reporting compliance. Ongoing monitoring and reporting ensure adherence to contractual obligations and programmatic excellence. Performance standards will include:

            • Provider will serve at least 80% of the projected number of clients.
            • Provider will deliver at least 80% of projected services.
            • Provider will participate in 100% of mandatory programmatic trainings.
            • Provider will participate in 100% of other mandatory meetings.
            • Provider will participate in IDHS initiated monitoring of this grant on an ongoing basis to ensure completion of performance measures, deliverables, and adherence to GATA and contract compliance with budgeting, programmatic and fiscal requirements during the contract year.
            • Provider will submit 100% of required program and financial reports to IDHS, Bureau of Refugee & Immigrants Services by the 15th of the month following the reporting month.
            • Monthly program reports are to be submitted electronically to IDHS, Bureau of Refugee & Immigrants Services via DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov
            • Monthly financial report is submitted electronically to IDHS, Bureau of Refugee & Immigrants Services via DHS.BRIS.Fiscal@Illinois.gov

  2. Funding Priorities or Focus Areas

    • IDHS is committed to promoting equality and addressing systemic racism. To this end, this NOFO places a significant emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusivity in service provision. Proposals that showcase a dedication to addressing institutionalized inequities, fostering transformative change, and championing equity and racial justice will receive careful consideration. We believe that these efforts are essential to creating a more just and equitable society for all.
    • Special consideration will be given to proposals that represent the ability to serve Illinois' identified priorities. Those priorities are as follows:
    • Priority will be given to proposals that:
      • Demonstrate innovative approaches to intake, screening, scaled service delivery, information distribution, and limited scope services.
      • Support workshop models that can be operated routinely and at scale to maximize access to pro se and pro bono services.
      • Promote collaboration, equity, and sustainability in legal service provision amongst service providers.
      • Expand access and referrals to reputable sources of legal immigration services, including application processing, for individuals who cannot otherwise afford an attorney or legal representation.
      • Develop strategies tailored to meet the needs of low-income, underserved, and hard-to-reach immigrant communities in Illinois and that promote inclusive participation.
      • Partner with other nonprofit organizations to provide high-quality immigration services and support immigrant integration in local communities.
      • Emphasize serving vulnerable populations, including immigrants, refugees, survivors of violence, and individuals facing barriers to legal assistance.

  3. Authorizing Statutes or Regulations

    • N/A

B. Funding Information

  1.  Total Amount of Funding

    1. The Department anticipates the availability of approximately funding $12,000,000.
    2. The source of funding for this program is GRF funds.

  2. Number of Grant Awards

    1. * IDHS expects to award a single grant award to an individual agency as prime grantee who will collaborate with multiple sub-recipients/partners.

  3. Expected Amounts of Individual Grant Award

    1. * The Department expects to grant a single award up to $12,000,000 to a prime grantee who will collaborate with multiple partners or sub-recipients. 

  4. Amount of Funding per Grant Award on average in previous years

    1.  Not applicable.

  5. Anticipated Start Dates and Periods of Performance for new grant awards.

    1. Subject to appropriation, the grant period will begin no sooner than September 1, 2024 and will continue through June 30, 2025.

  6. Renewal or Supplementation of existing projects eligibility

    1. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete with applications for new State awards.

  7.  Type of Assistance Instrument

    1. This is a competitive grant award funding opportunity.

  8. Procurement Contract Allowability

    1. Subcontractor Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by the Department and on file with the Department. Subcontractors are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant Agency shall retain sole responsibility for the performance and monitoring of the subcontractor.
    2. Successful applicants under this NOFO may be eligible to receive two subsequent one-year grant renewals for this program. Renewals are at the discretion of the Department and are based on sufficient appropriation and performance criteria including, but not limited to:
      1. Grantee has performed satisfactorily during the previous reporting period
      2. All required reports have been submitted on time, unless a written exception has been provided by the Division/Department
      3. No outstanding issues are present (e.g., in good standing with all pre-qualification requirements and no outstanding corrective action, etc.)
    3. The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award.

C. Eligibility Information

  1. Eligible Applicants

    • This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements:
      • The types of applicants that may apply for the grant award are:
        1. Is a not-for-profit organization located within the State of Illinois. Not-for-profit organization shall mean any not-for-profit corporation exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code.
        2. Has at minimum two (2) licensed attorneys on staff that are members in good standing of the bar of the highest court of any state in the country or U.S. territory; and have at least two (2) years of experience handling immigration remedies cases OR have two (2) staff recognized and accredited by the Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) under the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review for at least two (2) years.
        3. Has experience and successful track record of providing legal services to immigrant/refugee populations.
        4. Has knowledge and expertise in working with federal and state policies regarding immigrant and refugee legal status.
        5. Demonstrates understanding in ethnic diversity of the immigrant and refugee populations and the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate services unique to this program.
        6. Have at least three years of successful experience in managing sub-grants for direct services, including training, monitoring and service evaluation.
        7. Have the capacity to manage system planning and program operation.
        8. Have the capacity to provide technical assistance, collect service data, and generate program reports using the data provided by the service providers.
        9. The capacity to provide program and fiscal monitoring.
      • The applicant has met the Prequalification and Mandatory Requirements listed in this funding opportunity.
      • Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not prequalified prior to the due date of this application will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding.
      • Successful Applicants will not receive an award if pre-award requirements are not met.
      • Funding restrictions-See Section D for funding restriction impacting eligibility or no funding restrictions.

  2. Cost Sharing or Match Requirements

    1. Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

  3. Other

    1. Limit on Number of Applications
      • Organizations may submit one application as prime grantee. There is no limit on the number of applications organizations can be included on as sub-grantees.

D. Application and Submission Information

  1. Address to Request Application Package

    1. The complete application package (this Notice of Funding Opportunity, including links to required forms) is available through the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance and the DHS Grants website page.
    2. Each applicant must have access to the internet. The Department's website will contain information regarding the NOFO and materials necessary for submission. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Department's website as described later in this announcement. It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor that website and comply with any instructions or requirements relating to the NOFO.

  2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    1. Required Content

      1. Applications must include the required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. The Department will not contact applicants for missing items listed below. Applicants that do not include all the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding.

    2. Program Narrative

      1. IMPORTANT: The program (proposal) narrative makes up the bulk of the application. Please provide a complete response to the following sections. If the program narrative is missing from your application packet, your application will receive a score of zero points and your agency will not meet the criteria to receive a grant under this notice of funding opportunity.

    3. Proposal Narrative Content and Attachments

      1. If the applicant believes that the subject has been adequately addressed in another part of the application narrative, then provide the cross-reference to the appropriate part of the narrative. If a cross-reference is not included in the section, the reviewer will only consider content contained within that specific section.

    4. Budget and Budget Narrative

      1. Applicants must enter a budget electronically in the CSA system (Refer to Appendix A: CSA Budget Information for more information and a link to budget forms). The Budget entered into the CSA system will include a narrative or detailed description/justification for each line in the budget and will describe why each expenditure is necessary for program implementation and how you arrived at the particular amount. Please include cost allocations as necessary. This narrative must also clearly identify indirect costs, direct program costs, direct administrative costs, and match within each line item as appropriate. The Budget (including MTDC base exclusions as appropriate) should clearly describe how the specified resources and personnel have been allocated for the tasks and activities described in your plan.
      2. The Budget must be electronically signed and submitted in the CSA system. The Budget must be signed by the Provider's Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer.
      3. IMPORTANT: Please be sure the budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." This status will appear after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS. See IDHS CSA Tracking System webpage for additional information on CSA. If technical assistance is required regarding the CSA, please contact Guillermina Valdez at Guillermina.Valdez@Illinois.gov and Tamara Abu-Elreish at Tamara.Abu-Elreish2@Illinois.gov.  
      4. The budget and narrative must tie fiscal activity to program objectives and deliverables and demonstrate that all proposed costs are: 
        1. Reasonable and necessary
        2. Allocable, and
        3. Allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2CFR 200), as applicable.

    5. Required Forms

      • The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance (pdf)
      • The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance is a three-page document used to formalize organization's request to apply for funding. The document requires the signature and email address of the organization's authorized representative. This email address will be used for official communication between the Department and the applicant organization for matters regarding this application
      • Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure
      • The grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure is a required for all grant award programs. The document requires agencies to identify actual or potential conflicts of interest. The form must be signed by a representative of the organization.

    6. Required Format

      1. The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined below or points may be deducted.
      2. Electronic submission is required and should be submitted to Agata Fieske-Nesheiwat at Agata.Fieske-Nesheiwat@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov with the subject line: NOFO number and your agency name.
      3. The total application may not exceed 25 pages, single-spaced. The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, attachments, and Uniform Budget are not included in the page limitation.

  3. Unique Entity Identifiers and SAM Registration

    • Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal or State awarding agency that is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal or State awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to:
      •  Be registered in SAM.gov before the application due date.
      • Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UE) in its application
      • Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal, Federal pass-through or State award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal or State awarding agency.
      • The Department may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM requirements
      • The department may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award to another applicant.

  4. Application Submission Dates and Times

    1. Application Due Date and Time

      1. The Department must receive the Preliminary Submission materials (Letter of Intent, etc.)
        1. Not applicable
      2. The Department must receive the Full Application
        1. Due on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 5:00pm CST.
      3. Applicants must electronically submit the complete application including all required narratives and attachments in the prescribed order.
      4. Applications must be sent electronically to Agata.Fieske-Nesheiwat@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov. The application will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. The Department will ONLY accept applications submitted by electronic mail sent to Agata.Fieske-Nesheiwat@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov. Include the following in the subject line: NOFO number and your agency name.
      5. Application submissions or delivery to any other email address or contact, including other IDHS offices or employees, will not be considered for review or funding. Applications will NOT be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk or thumb drive
      6. Applicants are required to notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline, if they did NOT receive an email notifying them that their application was received. If the applicant does not receive an email and/or does not notify the Department within 48 hours, their application will be considered a late submission and will NOT be reviewed or scored. The applicant will NOT have the right to protest the submission/receipt of their application to the Department after the 48 hours. In the event of a dispute, the applicant bears the burden of proof that the application was received on time at the email location listed above.

    2. Missed Deadlines

      1. Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered for review or funding. All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be separately notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.
      2. For your records, please keep a copy of your submission with the date and time the application was submitted along with the email address to which it was sent. The deadline will be strictly enforced.
      3. IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that the applicant not wait until the last minute to submit an application in case they experience technical difficulties with the submission process. Applicants should keep copies of all documentation that that may prove their application was submitted to the correct location and that it was received by IDHS on or before the deadline. Applicants should also maintain all electronic documentation, including screen shots, email correspondence, help desk ticket numbers, etc. that would document any unforeseen difficulties the applicant may have encountered regarding the timely submission of the application.

  5. Funding Restrictions

    1. Pre-Award Costs

      1. Pre-Award Costs are allowed subject to the discretion, review, and prior approval of the IDHS Budget Committee. Pre-Award Costs must be identified as such in the IDHS Uniform Grant Budget Narrative. Pre-award costs are allowable.
      2. IDHS grants are governed by 2 CFR. Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles and 30 ILCS 708 which include information on allowable costs, audit requirements, and financial records.

    2. Indirect Costs

      1. Indirect Costs may or may not be applied to this grant award. Approved indirect cost rates must be approved.
    3. Statutory or Regulatory Restrictions/Limitations

  6. Other Submission Requirements

    1. Electronic Submission

      1. Applications must be submitted electronically to Agata.Fieske-Nesheiwat@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov.
      2. Documents must or must not include a password.
      3. Contact Agata Fieske-Nesheiwat at Agata.Fieske-Nesheiwat@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov in the event of technical difficulties.

E. Application Review Information

All competitive grant applications are subject to merit-based review.

  1.  Criteria

    • Applications that fail to meet the criteria described in Section C "Eligibility Information" will not be scored and/or considered for funding.
    • All applicants / applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be notified. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.
    • Evaluation criteria is based upon requirements set forth in 44 IL Admin Code 7000.350 Merit Review of Applications and the IDHS Merit Review Manual. The following criteria will be used to evaluate applications:
      1. Cost sharing will not be considered in the evaluation.

    • Rubric 

      • The maximum possible score is 100 points. All applications will be reviewed, evaluated, and rated based on the following rubric associated with the components of the program narrative template. Summaries of sections in the program narrative are included below. For full details on requirements of each section, please consult the program narrative template.
        1. Executive Summary - 10 points
          • The Executive Summary will serve as a stand-alone document that may be shared with various state-level stakeholders and others requesting a brief overview of the proposed project.
        2. Agency Qualifications/Organization Capacity - 25 points
          • The aim of this section is for the applicant to provide information on their organization's accomplishments, qualifications, and organizational capacity that will make them successful in implementing the program. Applicants must detail how they will collaborate with and oversee program partners and subgrantees, as well as conduct ongoing monitoring and evaluation to measure program effectiveness.
        3. Community Identification and Client Projection - 20 points
          • In this section, the applicant must describe the communities that will be served through their proposed program, the strategies they will use to successfully reach clients, and estimate the numbers of clients served in each of the four components of the program framework.
        4. Equity and Racial Justice Commitment - 5 points
          • The purpose of this section is for the applicant to demonstrate understanding of the history and impact of racism and inequity on Immigrant, refugee, asylee and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) communities and to describe the organization's response to address racial inequity. The applicant should provide a clear picture of its work to counteract systemic racism and inequity and to prioritize and maximize diversity and equity throughout its service provision process.
        5. Program Design and Implementation - 25 points

          • This section aims for the applicant to provide a comprehensive, clear, and accurate picture of its intended program design. At a minimum, the proposal must include a service delivery overview and describe how the organization will provide the proposed services and activities in the four core areas:

            • Screening
            • Workshops
            • Legal Aid
            • Referral Networks.
        6. Budget Cost and Justification - 10 points
          • Applicants must submit a detailed budget for the period for which the services are anticipated to be delivered including justification for expenditures and describe how the specified resources and personnel are being allocated to ensure the tasks, activities, goals, and objectives described in your proposal will be implemented.
        7. Priority Consideration - 5 points
          • Applications from not-for-profit community-based organizations (501c 3) may submit a "Statement of Priority" if they are led by immigrant, refugee, and/or LEP individuals that share the same linguistic and cultural background of the community being served. Immigrant, refugee, and/or LEP "led" is defined by the total composition of the organization's Board of Directors, CEO, and executive leadership being more than 50% immigrants, refugees, and/or LEP individuals that share the cultural background of the community being served.
      • Complete information on all the required components of the program narrative can be found in the Program Narrative Template.

  2. Review and Selection Process

    1. Grant applications received will be reviewed by IDHS staff, including staff from the Bureau of Refugee and Immigrant Services; persons with expertise on immigrant issues may also be included.
    2. Funding decisions will be based upon the quality of the applicant's program plan and budget narrative based on the 100-point scale described above. However,the numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. The Department reserves the right to consider other factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, and agency past performance as a state grantee, etc. While the recommendation of the review panel will be a key factor in the funding decision, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the findings of the reviewers to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information.
    3. In the event of a tie with insufficient funding for all tied applications, the Department may choose to elect one of the following options:
      1. Apply one or more of the additional factors for consideration described above to prioritize the applications
      2. Partially fund each of the tied applications
      3. Not fund any of the tied applications.The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc.
    4. Merit-Based Review Appeal Process
      1. Competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal and shall be reviewed by IDHS' Appeal Review Officer (ARO).
        1. Submission of Appeal
          1. Appeals submission IDHS contact information:
            1. Name of Agency contact for appeals: Karina Lopez
            2. Email of Agency contact for appeals: Karina.Lopez@Illinois.gov
            3. Email Subject Line: Appeal Immigrant Legal Support Program 25-444-80-3403
          2. An appeal must be submitted in writing to appeals submission IDHS contact listed above, who will send to the IDHS Appeal Review Officer (ARO) for consideration.
            1. An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published.
            2. The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following:
              1. Name and address of the appealing party
              2. Identification of the grant
              3. Statement of reasons for the appeal
              4. Supporting documentation, if applicable
        2. Response to Appeal
          1. IDHS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
            1. IDHS will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.
            2. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by IDHS within the time period set in the request.
        3. Resolution 
          1. The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Agency Head or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information.
            1. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the State Agency.
            2. The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination.
            3. The determination shall include, but not be limited to:
              1. Review of the appeal;
              2. Appeal determination; and
              3. Rationale for the determination.

  3. Simplified Acquisition Threshold - Federal Awards and State Awards

    1. It is anticipated that this grants under this award may receive over $250,000. Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (currently $250,000) (Refer to 2 CFR 200 Section 200.1). Therefore, the grantee is subject to Simplified Acquisition Threshold and related requirements.
      1. IDHS prior to making an award with a total amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313);
      2. That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a State or Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SA
      3. IDHS will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under State and Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in § 200.206. ~

  4. Anticipated Announcement and State Award Dates

    • Anticipated Program Start Date: September 1, 2024.
    • Anticipated Program End Date: June 30, 2025.
    • Grant applicants not selected to receive funds will receive a non-funding notice.

F. Award Administration Information

  1. State Award Notices

    1. Applicants recommended for funding under this NOFO following the above review and selection process will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA). The NOSA shall include:
      1. Grant award amount
      2. The terms and conditions of the award
      3. Specific conditions, if any, assigned to the applicant based on the fiscal and administrative (ICQ), programmatic risk assessments (PRA) and merit-based review.
    2. Note: The Department cannot issue a NOSA until the successful applicant has an approved budget entered into CSA. The applicant shall receive the NOSA through the Grantee Portal. The NOSA must be signed by the grants officer (or equivalent). This signature effectively accepts the state award amount and all conditions set forth within the notice. This signed NOSA is the document authorizing the Department to proceed with issuing an agreement. The Agency signed NOSA must be remitted to the Department as instructed in the notice.
    3. The notice is not an authorization to begin performance (to the extent that it allows charging to State awards of pre-award costs at the non- State entity's own risk).
    4. A written Notice of Denial shall be sent to the applicants not receiving the award.

  2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    1. The agency awarded funds shall provide services as set forth in the IDHS grant agreement and shall act in accordance with all state and federal statutes and administrative rules applicable to the provision of the services.
    2. To review a sample of the current IDHS Uniform Grant Agreement.

  3. Reporting

    • Upon execution of the grant agreement, reporting shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Uniform Grant Agreement and related Exhibits which includes, but is not limited to the following:
      1. Periodic Financial Reports.
      2. Close-out Reports
      3. Periodic Performance Reports.
      4. Close-out Performance Reports.
      5. Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: Additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in a format prescribed by the Department.
    • If the State share of any State award may include more than $500,000 over the period of performance, applicants are also subject to the reporting requirements reflected in appendix XII to 2CFR200.
    • Non-compliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List (SSPL).

  4. Payment Terms

    1. It is the policy of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) that this policy complies with 2 CFR 200.302, 2 CFR 200.305, 31 CFR 205 (procedures implementing Cash Management Improvement Act and Treasury-State Agreement (TSA)), and 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.120 (GOMB Adoption of Supplemental Rules for Grant Payment Methods). Three different award payment method exist, namely Advance Payment, Reimbursement, and Working Capital Advance.

G. State Awarding Agency Contact(s)

  1. If you have questions about this NOFO, please contact Clare Sigelko at Clare.Sigelko@Illinois.gov.
  2. A frequently asked Question and Answer page is posted on the DHS website. Questions submitted up to two business days prior to the end of the NOFO posting period, will be posted on the website.

H. Other Information, if applicable

Question and Answers

  • Questions and Answers can be submitted to Clare Sigelko at Clare.Sigelko@Illinois.gov and DHS.BRIS@Illinois.gov   
  • Email Subject Line: Q&A Illinois Immigrant Legal Support Program 25-444-80-3403. Q&As will be posted to the IDHS Website.
  • Q&As will be posted in a timely, responsive manner to ensure current information regarding NOFOs is available to applicants.
  • All questions submitted to the program area must be answered publicly through the IDHS website within 48 hours or 2 business days (excluding weekends and holidays).

I. Mandatory Forms

  • Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance
  • Uniform Grant Budget Template | Instructions
  • Uniform Grant Budget in CSA
  • Conflict of Interest Disclosure
  • Attachments:
    • Appendix 1: Copy Federal or State approved NICRA
    • Appendix 2: Copy of Applicant's current Federal Form W-9 (if using subcontractor(s) include subcontractor's W-9)
    • Appendix 3: Program Implementation Plan and Timeline
    • Appendix 4: Agency/organization chart and staffing plan
    • Appendix 5: Job Descriptions and resumes
    • Appendix 6: Budget
    • Appendix 7: Sub-recipient agency profile (if applicable)
    • Appendix 8: Sub-recipient Budgets (if applicable)
    • Appendix 9: Sub-recipient Agreement (generated by the applicant agency outlining the scope of work/deliverables the subrecipient will be completing for this program.)
    • Appendix 10: Statement of Priority