AmeriCorps Formula Traditional (Illinois) (26-444-80-2810-01) Notice of Funding Opportunity

1. - Basic Information

Required Information:
1. Awarding Agency Name: Illinois Department of Human Services
2. Funding Opportunity Title: AmeriCorps Formula Traditional
3. Announcement Type
4. Funding Opportunity Number: 26-444-80-2810-01
5. Assistance Listing Number(s): 444-80-2810

Awarding Agency Name (1-A)	Illinois Department of Human Services
Agency Division Name	Office of Community and Positive Youth Development; Bureau of Volunteerism and Community Service
Agency Contact	Name: Rachel Tuxhorn Email Address: DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov Phone Number: 217-622-0835
Announcement Type (1-C)	Competitive Initial Announcement
Funding Opportunity Title (1-B)	AmeriCorps Formula Traditional (Illinois)
Funding Opportunity Number (1-D)	26-444-80-2810-01
Application Posting Date	April 11, 2025
Application Closing Date	May 14, 2025, 4:00pm (CST)
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number	444-80-2810
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Name	AmeriCorps Formula Traditional
Assistance Listing Number(s) (1-E)	94.006
Awarding Source	Federal Pass-Through and Philanthropic Funds
Estimated Total Program Funding Amount	$6,500,000
Anticipated Number of Awards	Approximately 25
Award Range	$75,000-$1,250,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement?	Yes
Indirect Costs Allowed?	Yes
Restrictions on Indirect Costs?	See Section 4. Application Contents and Format: B. for more information
Technical Assistance Session Offered	Yes April 22, 2025, 10:00 a.m. CST Technical Assistance Registration

Funding Details
1. Total Amount of Funding
  1. The Department expects to award approximately $6,500,000.
  2. The source of funding for this program is Federal Pass-Through and Philanthropic funds.
2. Number of Grant Awards
  1. The Department anticipates funding approximately twenty-five (25) grant awards to provide this program.
3. Expected Dollar Amount of Individual Grant Awards
  1. The Department anticipates that the dollar amount of individual awards will be $75,000-$1,250,000.
4. Average Amount of Funding per Grant Award in previous years.
  1. Average funding amount for this grant award program in previous years was $375,000.
5. Renewal or Supplementation of Existing Projects Eligibility
  1. Existing Projects: Applications from existing projects / providers are eligible to compete with applications for new State awards. Note: Existing projects/providers MUST compete to receive funding after 6/30/25.
  2. Renewal: 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.)
6. Sub-Recipient Agreements
  1. Sub-Recipient Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by the Department and on file with the Department. Sub-Recipients are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant Agency shall retain sole responsibility for the performance and monitoring of the sub-recipient.
7. 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 for this award.
    2. IDHS grants are governed by 2 CFR. Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. Principles and 30 ILCS 708 which include information on allowable costs, audit requirements, and financial records.
  2. Indirect Costs
    1. To charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate. Indirect costs charged to the grant may not exceed the approved rate.
  3. Indirect Cost Rate Election:
    1. Federally Negotiated Rate: Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA with their application.
    2. State Negotiated Rate: The organization must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois by completing an indirect cost rate proposal in the CARS system if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate or elect to use the de minimis Rate.
    3. De Minimis Rate: An organization that has never received a Federal or State Negotiated Rate may elect a de minimis rate of 15% of modified total direct cost (MTCD). Once established, the de minimis rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de minimis rate. If programs elect to use the de minimis rate, it is critical that program budgets accurately
      calculate the MTDC base. Please see the regulation below and note the exclusions to MTDC.
      2 CFR 200.86 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC):
      MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $50,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs
    4. AmeriCorps-Fixed Percentage method (five/ten percent fixed administrative cost option) outlined in AmeriCorps' Indirect Cost Guidance
8. The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award.
Key Dates
1. Application Posting Date: April 11, 2025
2. The Department must receive the Preliminary Submission materials (Letter of Intent, etc.): Not Applicable
3. The Department must receive the Full Application: Due on May 14th, 2025, at 4:00 P.M. CST.
4. Anticipated Award Date: July 31, 2025
5. Anticipated Start Dates and Periods of Performance for new grant awards.
  1. Subject to appropriation, the grant period will begin no sooner than August 1, 2025, no later than September 1, 2025, and will operate for no more than 12 months.
Executive Summary: The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National grants are awarded to eligible organizations that engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. An AmeriCorps member is a person who does community service through AmeriCorps.
Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits. After successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.
AmeriCorps State and National improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps State and National brings people together to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. AmeriCorps members serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving.
This funding opportunity is open to new, recompete, and continuation applicants in any community located in Illinois. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by IDHS - Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature form the program designee.
Agency Contact Information.
1. If you have questions relating to this NOFO, please send them via email to Rachael Tuxhorn at DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov with "FY26 Formula Traditional NOFO" in the subject line of the email beginning April 14, 2025.
2. Questions with their respective answers will be posted here: AmeriCorps Formula Traditional (26-444-80-2810-01) Technical Assistance, Questions & Answers and Appendices. Questions and answers will be updated frequently as new questions are received. Applicants are responsible for checking frequently as the responses provided may have an impact on their ability to submit a responsive application. Only written answers posted on the website will be considered valid and official.
3. The final deadline to submit any written questions regarding this Funding Notice will be Monday, May 12, 2025. The Final listing of Q&A will be posted by End of Day on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Indirect Costs: (for more information, refer to Section 4. Application Contents and Format: B. of this NOFO)

2. Eligibility

This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements and are subject to the limitations described below.

the limitations described below.

Eligible Applicants are limited to Indian Tribes; institutions of higher education; local governments, including school districts; nonprofit organizations.
The applicant must meet the Registration, Pre-qualification and any other Mandatory Requirements listed in this funding opportunity.
1. Applicants must provide the following information via the Grantee Portal annually to be registered with the State of Illinois as an awardee:
  1. Organization name and contact information
  2. Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN)
  3. Unique Identity Number (UEI)
  4. Organization type
2. Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not prequalified prior to and on the due date of this application will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding. Items a) through e) below are the prequalification requirements.
  1. Unique Entity Identifiers and SAM Registration: Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual 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:
    1. Be registered in Sam.gov before the application due date.
    2. Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UEI) in its application.
    3. Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by the awarding agency.
    4. The State Agency may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM requirements.
    5. The State Agency may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award another applicant or applicants.
  2. Must be in "good standing" with the Illinois Secretary of State if the Illinois Secretary of State requires the entity's organization type to be registered.
  3. Must not be on the Illinois Stop Payment List
  4. Must not be on the Sam.gov Exclusion List
  5. Must not be on the Medicaid Sanctions List (DHFS Provider Sanctions List)
3. Additional Mandatory Requirements
  1. Threshold Requirements: Specific types of applicants/applications must meet the following requirements:
    1. Professional Corps must show that the community where it will place AmeriCorps members has a shortage of professionals in the relevant area, e.g., teachers, medical professionals, etc.
    2. If service activities require special member qualifications and/or training, such as tutoring programs, the applicant must describe how these requirements will be met.
    3. All applicants must propose program designs that are either evidence-based or evidence-informed. Applicants assessed as lower than the Preliminary evidence tier must provide adequate responses to the Evidence Quality review.
  2. Restrictions:
    1. Organizations that have violated a federal criminal statute may not receive AmeriCorps funds. Organizations that propose activities that are not allowed by AmeriCorps' laws, rules, or terms and conditions cannot receive AmeriCorps funding. Organizations that have any unpaid federal tax liability are not allowed to receive an award. AmeriCorps cannot provide funding to any corporation that has unpaid federal taxes that are not being paid through an agreement with the relevant tax authority. However, this does not apply if a federal agency decided that a suspension or debarment for the corporation is not necessary,
    2. Organizations that are described in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §501 (c)(4) that lobby cannot receive AmeriCorps funding according to the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.
  3. Member Living Allowances: A living allowance is not considered a salary or a wage. Programs are not required to provide a living allowance for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must follow the limits in the table below. Organizations applying for Cost Reimbursement grants must include the living allowance in the budget, either as share or match.
    1. Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance Rates
      
      Slot Types
      
      Full-time
      
      Three Quarter-time
      
      Half-time
      
      Reduced Half-time
      
      Quarter-time
      
      Minimum-time
      
      Abbreviated-time
      
      Minimum # of Hours
      
      1,700
      
      1,200
      
      900
      
      675
      
      450
      
      300
      
      100
      
      Minimum Living Allowance
      
      $20,400
      
      n/a
      
      n/a
      
      n/a
      
      n/a
      
      n/a
      
      n/a
      
      Maximum Total Living Allowance
      
      $40,800
      
      $28,560
      
      $20,400
      
      $15,504
      
      $10,608
      
      $8,568
      
      $2,448
    2. Exceptions to the Living Allowance Requirements
      1. Programs existing prior to September 21, 1993, do not have to offer a living allowance. If an organization chooses to offer a living allowance, it does not have to pay its members the minimum but cannot exceed the maximum.
    3. Maximum Cost per Member Service Year: The cost per MSY is determined by dividing the AmeriCorps share of budgeted grants by the number of MSYs requested. It does not include childcare or the value of the education award a member may earn. AmeriCorps is keeping the maximum cost per MSY at the same amount as last year as a safeguard to ensure the number of members serving remains the same or grows. The agency is committed to and prioritizes applicants that maintain or grow the number of AmeriCorps members proposed to serve in their programs without increasing the requested cost per MSY.
      Table: Maximum Cost per MSY
      
      Grant Program
      
      Individual Formula State/Territory Program (cost reimbursement)
      
      Maximum
      
      $25,200
  4. Eligibility factors for the principal investigator or project director: N/A
    1. Successful Applicants will not receive an award if pre-award requirements are not met. Qualified status is re-verified nightly. If the entity's status changes, an email notice is sent to the designated entity representative with a link to the Grantee Portal.
    2. See Section 1. Basic Information: i.F. for funding restrictions, if applicable.
    3. Other factors that would disqualify an applicant or application include: N/A
    4. Limit on number of applications: N/A
  5. Cost Sharing:
    1. Providers are required to provide in-kind and/or financial match.
    2. Applicants are required to match funds provided by IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National. The applicant's match can be non-AmeriCorps cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants must show that they can meet the match requirement when they submit the application. Applicants must indicate whether the match funding is proposed or secured.
    3. A first-time successful applicant is required to match at 24 percent for the first three-year funding period. Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every three years to 30 percent by year ten.
      Table: AmeriCorps Required Match
      
      AmerCorps Funding Year Years 1-3 Years 4-6 Years 7-9 Years 10 +
      
      Grantee Share Requirements 24 26 28 30
4. Match Waiver
  1. Please use the Match Waiver information for AmeriCorps State and National Grantees located on the Manage Your Grant | AmeriCorps webpage. IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National encourages Tribal Nations to request match waivers to reduce barriers. Every effort will be made to reduce the match requirements to improve accessibility to funding.

AmerCorps Funding Year	Years 1-3	Years 4-6	Years 7-9	Years 10 +
Grantee Share Requirements	24	26	28	30

3. Program Description

The general purpose of the funding is to support eligible organizations that identify an unmet need in their community to be addressed by AmeriCorps members. Funded projects are expected to achieve outcomes in the areas of education, economic opportunity, healthy futures, or support for veterans for the public good.
AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through national service and volunteerism. Through AmeriCorps grants, organizations engage in meeting community and national challenges through service and volunteer action. The AmeriCorps grant engages AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions/practices to strengthen local communities. AmeriCorps program focuses on the delivery of direct and/or capacity building services and Programs recruit, train and manage AmeriCorps members to deliver services. An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon the members' successful completion of service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.
IDHS requires all grant agreements to run through the end of the state fiscal year, June 30, 2026. However, the project period for this grant award ends on August 31, 2026. Under this grant agreement, programming may only be implemented through August 31, 2026.
The State agency's funding priorities or focus areas.
1. For this funding opportunity, IDHS-Serve Illinois will prioritize consideration from organizations that:
  1. Serve communities with concentrated poverty, rural communities, tribal communities, and historically underrepresented and underserved individuals.
  2. Implement programs for or expand access to high-quality youth mental health and substance use recovery services and prepare AmeriCorps members to enter behavioral health careers. These may include individuals with lived experience with substance use and mental health challenges to support youth mental health efforts and continued AmeriCorps work on the opioid epidemic
  3. Focus on improving the quality of life for veterans, active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and their families by recruiting veterans, military spouses, and their older children into national service;
  4. Support civic bridgebuilding programs and projects to reduce polarization and community divisions; and providing training in civic bridgebuilding skills and techniques to AmeriCorps members;
  5. Benefit AmeriCorps Members:
    1. Provide benefits to AmeriCorps members aimed at enhancing member experience and bolstering member recruitment and retention such as paying more than the minimum living allowance, transportation, housing, food, etc.;
    2. Create workforce pathways for AmeriCorps members, including deliberate training, certifications, and hiring preferences or support;
    3. Enhance and expand services to second chance youth and/or engage those youth as AmeriCorps members;
    4. Develop and train the next generation of diverse public health leaders through service while addressing pressing community health challenges.
  6. Use Evidence
    1. Utilize reports from the AmeriCorps Evidence Exchange on programs assessed as having Moderate or Strong evidence to scale, replicate, or adapt the intervention;
  7. Faith based
    1. Organizations that are faith-based;
Goals and Objectives of the Program
1. Unite Americans by bringing them together in service
2. Partner with communities and organizations to address unmet critical community needs
3. Develop a lifelong ethic of service among the AmeriCorps members who serve
Program Deliverables
1. The Provider will provide the services and agrees to act in compliance with all state and federal statutes and administrative rules applicable to the provision of services pursuant to this Agreement. The grant application, submitted by the Provider, relates to this Agreement must be implemented as outlined below.
2. The Provider will comply with applicable Terms and Conditions for AmeriCorps State and National Grants (pdf) and General Grant and Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions and Executive Orders (pdf).
3. The Provider will comply with member recruitment and selection requirements as outlined in AmeriCorps' regulations at 45 CFR §§ 2522.210 and Part 2540, subpart B.
4. The Provider will ensure that each member has sufficient opportunity to complete the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award.
5. The Provider will adhere to all requirements outlined in the IDHS - Serve Illinois Program Director's Manual.
6. Conduct National Service Criminal History Check (NSCHC) requirements as outlined in the NSCHC Manual (pdf) and regulations at 45 CFR § 2540, subpart B.
7. Recruit and retain the allocated number and type of slots (e.g., full-time, half-time) of AmeriCorps members.
8. Provide services with the designated population(s) in the service area that work towards meeting the specified outcomes and outputs that align with primary services, addressing the focus area(s), and, if applicable, engaging volunteers in accordance with the approved program plan.
9. Adhere to the performance measures and evaluation in the approved program plan as required by IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National.
10. Supervise and train members throughout their service term as outlined in the approved program plan.
11. Provide all members with AmeriCorps uniforms, service gear, personal protective equipment and all other service materials required to accomplish the member's service hours.
12. Participate in Illinois IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National scheduled meetings and trainings (including Program Director's meetings, AmeriCorps regional offerings and regional trainings).
13. Certify member enrollment in My AmeriCorps Portal for all members within eight calendar days of the AmeriCorps members' starting a term of service.
14. Host or co-host two national service days. All sites will host/co-host an event for the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday. The Provider will also host/co-host a second event and it is at the discretion of the Provider to select from one of the following options: Global Youth Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, 9/11 Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day.
15. Host a National Service Opening Day event/activity at the program site no later than six weeks from the start date of the program.
16. Host or co-host an AmeriCorps member recognition event/activity during AmeriCorps week.
17. Programs are to be designed to operate for no more than 12 months.
Performance Measures and Standards
1. At the end of each quarter, successful applicants will submit a periodic performance report (PPR). At the end of the year, successful applicants will submit a cumulative report. In addition to service data and activities, the PPRs will also include the following performance measures:
  1. State Performance Measures
    1. Execute an approved overall program plan designed to serve the target population and achieve identified program goals.
    2. Execute a detailed member outreach and recruitment plan.
    3. Ensure that each AmeriCorps member completes the required number of hours of service to qualify for the education award.
    4. Ensure provider participation in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National meetings.
    5. Ensure provider participation in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National sanctioned activities and trainings.
    6. Ensure AmeriCorps member participation in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National sanctioned activities and trainings.
    7. Ensure timely exit of all members.
    8. Complete all required reports and program closeout by agreed deadlines.
  2. National Performance Measures
    1. All applications must include at least one aligned performance measure, output, and outcome, that corresponds to the proposed primary intervention. This may be a National Performance Measure or an applicant-determined measure. For more information, refer to the AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measure Instructions 2025 (pdf).
  3. Program Performance Standards
    1. Execution of IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National-approved program plan designed to serve the target population and achieve identified program goals by the date in the approved timeline.
    2. 50% of approved member slots are recruited and enrolled within 30 days of the program start date.
    3. 85% of enrolled AmeriCorps members qualify for the education award by program end.
    4. 80% provider attendance rate for participation in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National meetings.
    5. 80% provider attendance rate for participation in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National sanctioned activities and training.
    6. 80% participation rate of currently enrolled members (on the date of the activity/training) in IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National sanctioned and required activities/trainings.
    7. 100% of enrolled members are exited from the eGrants system within 30 days of the end of their term of service.
    8. 100% accurate completion of all required reports and program closeout by the agreed deadline.
  4. National Performance Standards
    1. National Performance Standards. Must be consistent with chosen performance measures. See AmeriCorps State and National Performance Measure Instructions 2025 (pdf).
For cooperative agreements, the State agency expects not to have a cooperative agreement under the award listed in this opportunity.
Specific unallowable costs for this program include the following:
1. Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from IDHS - Serve Illinois:
2. Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.438)
3. Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439)
4. Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439)
5. Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee's employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor's Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200.445).
6. Deposits for items, services, or space
7. Limitation of Use
8. Limitation of Use of Award funds for Employee Compensation: With respect to any award over $250,000, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation to any employee that exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year. A salary table is available at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website: Rates of Basic Pay for Members of the Senior Executive Services (pdf).
Program beneficiaries or program participants must meet the following requirements:
1. IDHS-Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps do not have specific eligibility requirements for program beneficiaries.
2. Requirements for AmeriCorps Program Participants (Members):
  1. Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service; or
  2. Be an out-of-school youth 16 years of age at the commencement of service participating in a program described in § 2522.110(b)(3) or (g))
  3. Have a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
  4. Not have dropped out of elementary or secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and must agree to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award; or
  5. Obtain a waiver from AmeriCorps of the requirements in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section based on an independent evaluation secured by the program demonstrating that the individual is not capable of obtaining a high school diploma or its equivalent; or
  6. Be enrolled in an institution of higher education on an ability to benefit basis and be considered eligible for funds under section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091);
  7. Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States:
    1. Satisfy the National Service Criminal History Check eligibility criteria pursuant to 45 CFR 2540.202.
    2. Provide written declaration regarding high school diploma sufficient for enrollment.
    3. Provide primary documentation of status as a U.S. citizen or national.
    4. Provide primary documentation of status as a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
Authorizing statutes and regulations for the funding opportunity include the following: Statutory Authority: Awards under this Notice are authorized by the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (pdf), as amended, (42 U.S.C. §12501 et seq.).
Regulations include 45 CFR Chapter XXII and 45 CFR Chapter XXV.

4. Application Contents and Format

Content and Form of Application Submission
1. Pre-applications, letters of intent, or white papers are not required nor encouraged.
2. Required Content of Application
  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 complete and/or submit all the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding. Refer to Section 5 Submission Requirements and Deadlines: iii for details.
  This notice should be read together with the AmeriCorps regulations, Application Instructions (pdf), Performance Measures Instructions (pdf), and Mandatory Supplemental Information (pdf).
  1. The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance (pdf)
  2. Proposal Narrative (Described below in this section) consisting of the following subparts:
    1. Executive Summary
    2. Program Narrative
    3. Program Design/Quality/Need
    4. Evidence Base
    5. Budget and Budget Narrative
    6. Attachments to your Application
  3. Unform Grant Budget Template (pdf) ((Entered in the CSA system - described below))
  4. Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure (pdf)
3. Program Narrative and Attachments
  Applicants must submit an application that covers the 12-month project period that begins no sooner than August 1, 2025, and no later than September 1, 2025, through the end of the 12-month project period. If an applicant receives an award through this NOFO the proposal will become the local program plan and budget plan unless revisions are required. The application/plan will be the basis for monitoring compliance by IDHS-Serve Illinois.
  IMPORTANT: The program (proposal) narrative makes up the bulk of the application. If the program narrative is missing from your application packet, your application will receive a significantly reduced score and the applicant organization will not meet the criteria to receive a grant under this notice of funding opportunity.
  Applications must not exceed 11 double-spaced pages printed out from eGrants for the Narrative. The application sections that count towards the page limit include:
  - SF-424 Face Sheet;
  - Executive Summary;
  - Program Design/Need/Quality
  - Capacity/Organizational Capability, and
  - Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy narratives.
    The application page limit does NOT include:
  - Evaluation Summary/Plan;
  - Clarification Summary;
  - Continuation Changes;
  - Budget form
  - Performance Measures; and
  - Any required additional documents.
    The Logic Model may not exceed eight pages when printed with the application from the "Review" tab in AmeriCorps' web-based management system.
  1. Proposal Narrative Sections: Please provide a complete response to the following sections. 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.
    1. Executive Summary (0 points): Applicants must fill in the blanks of these sentences to complete the Executive Summary. There are two options for the second paragraph; please choose the appropriate language for your application. Do not deviate from this template:
      1. "The [Name of the organization] will have [Number of] AmeriCorps members in [the locations the AmeriCorps members will serve, e.g. - City, State or State(s)]. AmeriCorps members will [service activities the members will do]. At the end of the first program year, the AmeriCorps members will be responsible for [anticipated outcome of project]. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage [number of leveraged volunteers, if applicable] who will be engaged in [what the leveraged volunteers will be doing].
      2. Required Cost Reimbursement grant applicants: The AmeriCorps investment will be matched with $[amount of projected match], $[amount of local, state, and Federal Funds] in public funding and $[amount of non-governmental funds] in private funding." OR;
      3. Required for Fixed amount grant applicants e.g., EAP, Full-Cost Fixed, No Cost Slots: In addition to the AmeriCorps investment, $[amount of local, state, and Federal Funds] in public funding and $[amount of non-governmental funds] in private funding will support the project."
    2. Program Design/Quality/Need (50% of total points)
      1. Community and Logic Model (24 points): The applicant will provide a detailed summary of the community problem, including:
        
        How the inequities faced by underserved communities may contribute to the problem.
        
        How the applicant's intervention(s) will lead to the outcomes identified in the organization's Logic Model
        
        The applicant must describe in the Logic Model:
        
        The inputs or resources that are necessary to deliver the intervention, including but not limited to:
        
        Locations or sites in which members will provide services.
        
        Setting and community condition where the intervention is delivered.
        
        Number of AmeriCorps members who will deliver the intervention.
        
        Characteristics of AmeriCorps members, including specific knowledge, skills, and abilities required to implement the intervention.
        
        The core activities that members will deliver as part of the intervention including:
        
        Length of each activity (e.g., the total number of weeks, sessions, or months of the intervention).
        
        Dosage of each activity (e.g., the number of hours per session or sessions per week).
        
        Target population for the intervention (e.g., disconnected youth, third graders at a certain reading proficiency level).
        
        The measurable outputs that result from delivering the intervention (i.e., number of beneficiaries served, types and number of activities conducted, equity gaps closed). If applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as output indicators.
        
        Outcomes that result from the intervention, including meaningful changes in knowledge/skill, attitude, behavior, or condition. If applicable, identify which National Performance Measures will be used as outcome indicators.
      2. Evidence Base (20% of total points): The assessment of an applicant's evidence base has two parts. First, the applicant will be assigned to an evidence tier. Second, the quality of the applicant's evidence, how the evidence aligns with funding priorities and how the evidence supports the proposed program.
        
        Evidence Tier (12 points)
        
        Each applicant will receive an evidence tier assessment. This is based on the relative strength of the applicant's evidence base and the likelihood that the proposed intervention will lead to the outcomes identified in the Logic Model narrative.
        
        IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National values and funds programs at all points along the evidence continuum and expects programs to progress along the evidence continuum over time. Thus, applicants should not be deterred from applying for funding due to their current evidence level. In 2024, the evidence tiers of successful AmeriCorps State and National applicants that were competing were as follows: Strong (55 percent), Moderate (16 percent), Preliminary (19 percent), and Pre-Preliminary (11 percent).
        
        To qualify for the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tier, applicants may submit up to two evidence documents, plus the evaluation report from their last three-year grant cycle, if applicable. If multiple evidence documents are submitted by the applicant, the most recent - as measured by the date of completion or publication- will be reviewed first, and any documents submitted beyond the allowable number will not be reviewed.
        
        The intervention evaluated in the submitted evidence documents must match the intervention proposed by the applicant in the Community and Logic Model sections of the application. Use the Mandatory Supplemental Information (pdf) for a definition of the same intervention). Applicants must meet all requirements of an evidence tier to be considered for that tier.
        
        Submitted evidence documents that do not sufficiently match the intervention will not be reviewed or receive any points.
        
        In the Evidence Tier section of the application narrative, applicants must:
        
        Summarize the study design and key findings of the evidence documents submitted, plus, if applicable, the evaluation report from their last three-year grant cycle; and
        
        Describe any other evidence that supports their program, including past performance measure data and/or other research studies that inform their program design.
        
        Applicants should provide citations for the studies they describe.
        
        Evidence Quality (8 points)
        
        Reviewers will score the quality of an applicant's evidence and the extent to which it supports the proposed program design.
        
        Standards for scoring in the Preliminary, Moderate, or Strong evidence tiers: Submitted evidence documents:
        
        Are of satisfactory methodological quality and rigor for the type of evaluation conducted e.g., adequate sample size and statistical power, internal and/or external validity, appropriate use of control or comparison groups, etc.;
        
        Describe evaluations that were conducted relatively recently, preferably within the last six years; and
        
        Show a meaningful and significant positive effect on program beneficiaries or AmeriCorps members in at least one key outcome of interest.
        
        Standards for scoring in the pre-preliminary evidence tier:
        
        The applicant uses relevant evidence, including past performance measure data and/or cited research studies, to inform their proposed program design;
        
        The described evidence is relatively recent, preferably from the last six years; and
        
        The evidence described by the applicant indicates a meaningful positive effect on program beneficiaries or AmeriCorps members in at least one key outcome of interest.
      3. Notice Priority (0 points)
        
        Serve communities with concentrated poverty, rural communities, tribal communities. These may include: people with arrest or conviction records, religious minorities, etc.;
        
        Implement programs for or expand access to high-quality youth mental health and substance use recovery services and prepare AmeriCorps members to enter behavioral health careers. These may include individuals with lived experience with substance use and mental health challenges to support youth mental health efforts and continued AmeriCorps work on the opioid epidemic;
        
        Focus on improving the quality of life for veterans, active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and their families by recruiting veterans, military spouses, and their older children into national service;
        
        Support civic bridgebuilding programs and projects to reduce polarization and community divisions; and providing training in civic bridgebuilding skills and techniques to AmeriCorps members;
      4. Member Experience (6 points)
        
        The applicant describes how AmeriCorps members will be provided leadership and skill development opportunities.
        
        The applicant describes how the organization will provide members with an asset-based orientation to the community.
      5. Organizational Capability/Capacity (25% of total points)
        
        Organizational Background and Staffing (15 points)
        
        The applicant describes the roles, responsibilities, and structure of the staff that will be implementing and providing oversight of the program.
        
        The applicant describes their organization's mission and relevant experience in areas such as volunteer recruitment and management, community outreach, overcoming project implementation challenges, etc.
        
        The applicant describes their organization's experience with managing grants, especially federal or state grants. Include your past performance in meeting:
        
        Grant goals and objectives.
        
        Compliance and reporting requirements.
        
        Note: if you do not have experience with managing grants, please indicate that.
        
        The applicant has facilitated, partnered, or participated in educational or workforce development programs e.g. work experience or job training programs, etc.
        
        Member Supervision (10 points)
        
        The applicant describes how AmeriCorps members will receive sufficient guidance and support from their supervisor to provide effective service. E.g., structure for member supervision: cadence and format of supervisor/AmeriCorps member check-ins, member and supervisor opportunities to assess strengths and opportunities for growth, member training plan, etc.
        
        The applicant describes how AmeriCorps supervisors will be adequately trained to follow AmeriCorps and program regulations, priorities, and expectations. E.g., structure for support of supervisors, training plan for supervisors related to supervision and AmeriCorps rules and regulations, cadence and format of AmeriCorps supervisors/their supervisors check ins, opportunities to assess strengthens and opportunities for growth of supervisors, etc.
      6. Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy (25% of total points)
        
        Member Recruitment (8 points)
        
        The applicant describes budget expenses to support the recruitment of AmeriCorps members best suited to serve the community e.g., from geographic or demographic communities in which the program operates.
        
        The applicant describes how the AmeriCorps member living allowance and other benefits are adjusted within the maximum and minimum living allowance to accommodate for regional variations in contributing to the cost of living including: housing, transportation, food, and other expenses. This may vary depending on a program's type of member slots, e.g., FT, PT, RPT, etc.
        
        Member Retention (9 points)
        
        The applicant provides a description of budget expenses to support the retention of AmeriCorps members. e.g., additional member benefits such as paying above the minimum living allowance, supporting workforce pathways, certifications, coaching for members, resume building, individual benefits as well as community building, network building, member recognition, alumni programming, etc.
        
        Data Collection (8 points)
        
        The applicant provides a description of budget expenses to support data collection, continuous improvement activities, and evaluation of the interventions and impact on the community and the member experience.
        
        Evaluation Plan (0 points) (required for recompeting applicants)
        
        Required for recompeting applicants:
        
        If the applicant has previously received three or more years of competitive funding for the same project being proposed, the applicant must submit an evaluation plan.
        
        Applicants must use the evaluation plan template found on this webpage FY 2025 AmeriCorps State and National Grants to craft their evaluation plans. The evaluation plan will not be scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions have been made.
        
        All applicants enter N/A in the Evaluation Summary or Plan field of the Narrative. Any other text entered in this field will not be reviewed.
        
        Clarification
        
        Enter N/A. This field will be utilized should an applicant be funded.
        
        Continuation changes (0 points)
        
        Enter N/A. This field will be used to enter changes in the application narratives in continuation requests.
Indirect Costs
Application budgets may include indirect costs. Based on qualifying factors, applicants may:
1. use the AmeriCorps-Fixed Percentage method (five/ten percent fixed administrative cost option) outlined in AmeriCorps' Indirect Cost Guidance (pdf);
2. use a Federally approved indirect cost rate if they have one;
3. use a 15 percent de minimis rate of modified total direct costs; or
4. may claim certain costs directly.
  All methods must be applied consistently across all Federal awards. No more than five percent of award funds may be used to recover indirect costs on AmeriCorps State and National grants under section 121(d) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended and AmeriCorps' regulations at 45 CFR 2521.95 and 2540.110.
  Use the eGrants Indirect Cost Rate (IDCR) User Instructions (pdf) to enter the organization's Federal negotiated indirect cost rate or the de minimis rate information. Applicants should not submit documentation addressing the cost rate agreement via email.
  Please note: To request a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, when AmeriCorps is the applicable cognizant agency for an organization's indirect costs, the applicant must submit a request to IndirectCostRate@americorps.gov and copy DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov. The applicant may also obtain instructions and additional information by contacting the email address above.
5. Budget and Budget Narrative
  1. In addition to submitting your Budget Narrative in eGrants that is part of the scored application narrative above, applicants must also enter a budget electronically in the CSA system (Refer to IDHS: CSA Tracking System.)
    Please do not enter anything in CSA until instructed to do so by IDHS-Serve Illinois.
    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 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 herein and by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2CFR 200), as applicable.
  3. 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. Refer to IDHS: Process for Adding GATA Budget Signoff Authority. 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.
6. Required Forms
  1. 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.
  2. The Grantee Conflict of Interest Disclosure is 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.
  3. Uniform Grant Budget Template (pdf) is required for all grant award programs. The document requires agencies to outline their proposed budget prior to entering in CSA.
  4. Additional documents - all applicants:
    1. Evidence documents. Please refer to Evidence Base and Mandatory Supplemental Information (pdf) for detailed instructions by evidence tier.
    2. Labor union concurrence, if applicable.
    3. Operational and Financial Management Survey. Submit electronically using the online form. Forms submitted as a PDF, or any other document format may not be accepted.
    4. Additional documents - recompete applicants only
    5. Applicants who have received three or more years of competitive funding for the same project being proposed should also provide an: Evaluation plan using the evaluation plan template (pdf). Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions are made.
    6. Evaluation Report. Applicants who have received six or more years of competitive funding for the same project being proposed should also provide an Evaluation report. Please submit in Microsoft Word. The evaluation report should include a title page with: the AmeriCorps grant number for the project that was evaluated, the name of the project, the date of completion of the report, the evaluator name(s), evaluator organization name and, evaluator type (internal or external).
    7. If any of this required information is missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements.
    8. Evaluation plans and reports should be submitted to DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov by 5/7/2025 for review by IDHS - Serve Illinois staff prior to submission to AmeriCorps State and National.
  5. Tribal Organizations: Tribal organization eligibility documentation is required for entities applying on behalf of a Federally Recognized Tribe, new and recompeting.
7. Required Format
  1. The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined or points may be deducted. (see section 4. Application Contents and Format: A.3. for information about page limits)
  2. 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.
  3. Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system.
  4. The applicant's authorized representative must be the person who submits the application. The authorized representative must use their own account to sign and submit the application. Please note, if you don't have an account, one must create an account and password to submit.
  5. Applicants should contact the AmeriCorps Hotline at (800) 942-2677 if they have a problem when they create an eGrants account, prepare, or submit the application. Information about the AmeriCorps Hotline hours are also posted on the AmeriCorps Hotline webpage.
  6. When contacting the AmeriCorps Hotline, be prepared to provide the application ID, organization name, and the name of the Notice to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be fixed by the deadline, applicants must continue working with the AmeriCorps Hotline to submit via the grant system.

5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

Address to Request Application Package.

Address to Request Application Package.
1. Actions Needed Prior to Applying:
  1. The complete application package (this Notice of Funding Opportunity, including links to required forms) is available through the Illinois Catalog of Financial Assistance and the IDHS Grants Website Page located: IDHS: Grant Funded Programs
  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 in this announcement (section 1 - Alpha section I) It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor the website and comply with any instructions or requirements related to the NOFO.
Unique entity identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov). This subsection must state the requirements for unique entity identifiers and registration in SAM.gov. It must include the following:
1. Each applicant must:
  1. Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting its application;
  2. Provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and
  3. Continue to maintain an active registration in SAM.gov with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration.
  4. The Department may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM requirements.
  5. 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.
2. If individuals are eligible to apply, they are exempt from this requirement under 2 CFR 25.110(b).
3. If the agency exempts any applicants from this requirement under 2 CFR 25.110(c) or (d), a statement to that effect.
Submission Instructions.
1. Applicants must be registered with the State of Illinois and Pre-qualified in the GATA portal prior to applying for Illinois awards. Instructions for creating an account and registering are located at the following link: Illinois GATA Grantee Portal. Additionally, detailed instructions for registration and prequalification requirements, including the expected amount of time for completion are located here: Grant Applicant Pre-Qualification and Pre-Award Requirements (pdf).
2. The methods for submitting the application:
  1. Applicants must electronically submit their complete application in eGrants no later than 4:00 pm CST on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
  2. The following documents need to be submitted to DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov no later than 4:00 pm CST on Thursday, May 15, 2025:
  3. The eGrants application and emailed documents will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. The Department will ONLY accept the additional documents submitted by email to DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov. Include the following in the subject line: [Applicant organization name] 444-80-2810. Please make sure you have the correct email address when sending your documents. Document submissions or delivery to any other email address or contact, including other IDHS offices or employees, will not be considered for review or funding. eGrants application and additional documents will not be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk, or thumb drive.
  4. Documents must include the following password: N/A.
  5. Software or electronic capabilities required are as follows: eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based grant application system.
  6. Applicants are required to notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline, i.e., 4:00 pm CST on Monday, May 17, 2025, if they did not receive an email notifying them that their application was received. If the applicant does not receive an email and 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 (and that the budget was submitted into the CSA system on time).
3. Pre-application materials must be submitted as follows: N/A
4. If you are experiencing system problems or technical difficulties submitting your application, you may contact:
  1. Name: Cory Blissett
  2. Phone: 217-622-0835
  3. Email: Cory.Blissett@illinois.gov
Submission Dates and Times
1. Both the eGrants application and the additional email documents are due on the following date, May 14, 2025, at the following time, 4:00 pm CST.
2. Any preliminary submissions, such as letters of intent, white papers, or pre-applications are due on the following date and time: N/A
3. Other submissions required before the award (separate from the full application) include:
  1. Evidence documents. Please refer to the Evidence Base section and Mandatory Supplemental Information (pdf) for detailed instructions by evidence tier.
  2. Labor union concurrence, if applicable.
  3. Operational and Financial Management Survey. Submit electronically using the online form. Forms submitted as a PDF, or any other document format may not be accepted.
  4. Additional documents for applicants proposing projects previously funded by AmeriCorps:
    1. Evaluation Plan. Applicants who have received three or more years of formula funding for the same project being proposed should also provide an: Evaluation plan using the evaluation plan template found on the AmeriCorps site under Resources for State Subgrantees. Evaluation plans are not scored and will not be reviewed until after funding decisions are made.
    2. Evaluation Report. Applicants who have received six or more years of formula funding for the same project being proposed should also provide an Evaluation report. Please submit it in Microsoft Word. The evaluation report should include a title page with:
      1. the AmeriCorps grant number for the project that was evaluated,
      2. the name of the project,
      3. the date of completion of the report,
      4. the evaluator name(s),
      5. evaluator organization name and,
      6. evaluator type (internal or external).
    3. If any of this required information is missing, the applicant may not receive credit for meeting their evaluation requirements.
  5. Additional documents for entities applying on behalf of a Federally Recognized Tribe, new and recompeting:
    1. Tribal organization eligibility documentation
  6. Evaluation Plan and Evaluation Report must be emailed to DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov by May 7, 2025 at the following time, 4:00 pm CST with the following subject line: "Legal Applicant Name" - "Application ID Number." Emails should include:
    1. Legal applicant name and its point of contact information
    2. Application ID number
    3. List of documents that are attached to the email by filename, labeling each document type according to the above numbered list
4. 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 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.
Intergovernmental Review
1. This funding opportunity is NOT subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

6. Application Review Information

Eligibility Review
1. Applications that are received will be reviewed on/between May 15, 2025- May 31, 2025, to ensure they meet the criteria for consideration. Applications that do not meet the criteria in paragraph B below will be rejected and will not enter the Merit Review process.
2. The following are the criteria that must be met for eligibility:
  1. Applicant has a current registration with the State of Illinois in the Grantee Portal.
  2. Applicant has an active Sam.gov public account.
  3. Applicant has an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) with Sam.gov
  4. Applicant is in "good standing" with the Secretary of State.
  5. Applicant is not on the DHS Stop Payment List Service or the Illinois Stop Payment List.
  6. Applicant is not on the Sam.gov Exclusion List.
  7. Applicant is not on the Illinois Medicaid Sanctions (DHFS Provider Sanctions) List.
  8. Program specific eligibility restrictions include: N/A
3. Restrictions on eligibility for State awards are referenced in 44 Ill Admin Code 7000.70. Program specific eligibility restrictions are referenced in this Notice of Funding Opportunity.
4. 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.
Review Criteria
1. Review Criteria
  1. Evaluation criteria is based upon requirements set forth in 44 Ill Admin Code 7000.350 Merit Review of Applications and the IDHS Merit Review Manual. The review criteria and sub-criteria include the following:
    1. Applications will be evaluated based applicant's response to the program narrative described in Section 4. Application Contents and Format: A.3. Each section will be weighted as described below.
  2. Criteria and Weighting of each criterion
    Scoring will be on a 100-point scale. Application Narrative will be evaluated on the following criteria:
    
    Categories/Subcategories
    
    Executive Summary
    
    Program Design/Quality/Need
    
    Community and Logic Model
    
    Evidence Tier
    
    Evidence Quality
    
    Notice Priority
    
    Member Experience
    
    Organizational Capability/Capacity
    
    Organizational Background and Staffing
    
    Member Supervision
    
    Cost Effectiveness and Budget Adequacy
    
    Member Recruitment
    
    Member Retention
    
    Data Collection
    
    Percentage
    
    0
    
    50 Total
    
    24
    
    12
    
    8
    
    0
    
    6
    
    25 Total
    
    15
    
    10
    
    25 Total
    
    8
    
    9
    
    8
  3. Statutory, regulatory, or other preferences: N/A
  4. Cost Sharing will be considered in the review process.
  5. Information regarding Applicant-nominated reviewers: N/A
Review and Selection Process.
1. The process for evaluation of the application is as follows: As described in the Criteria section above, scoring will be done by committee on a 100-point scale.
2. Merit Based Review: The Merit Based Review will be conducted by a review team comprised of three or more internal and/or external reviewers. Internal reviewers are individuals employed by the Department, contractual staff or individuals working as interns from an Illinois academic institution. External reviewers are Governor-appointed Serve Illinois Commission board members who have volunteered to review applications, have subject matter expertise and/or grant reviewing experience and have been screened for any potential conflict of interest with their assigned applications.
3. The review and selection process are designed to:
  1. Identify how well eligible applications are aligned with the application selection criteria.
  2. Build a diversified portfolio based on the following strategic considerations:
    1. Funding Priorities (Reference Section 3. Program Description: D.1. for more information);
    2. Meaningful representation of:
      1. rural communities, and
    3. innovative community strategies; and
    4. IDHS - Serve Illinois discretion to advance strategic goals.
4. The review teams will be provided with a Merit Based Review Committee Member Orientation session. After the orientation session, applications will be reviewed and scored individually. The Review Team scores will be compiled and averaged on a Merit Based Review Summary Score Sheet.
5. The Bureau Chief or designee will conduct a quality assurance review which must include the following:
  1. Initial review of the summary score sheet to identify scoring discrepancies,
  2. Assess whether reviewers properly applied Merit Based Review steps as instructed,
  3. Identify any obvious infractions of committee members' independence in the review process.
  4. Assess whether reviewers properly completed all sections of the MBR Scoring Sheet. Reviewer score sheets may be returned to the reviewer to improve legibility and completeness of comments,
  5. Determine whether all facets of the review and scoring process were adhered to and consistently applied by reviewers.
6. After individual scores have been completed, a post-merit-based review committee meeting will be held. The review committee meeting is required for all competitive merit-based reviews and will be facilitated by the Bureau Chief or designee. The following apply:
  1. Each review team assigned application will be discussed by team members, including application highlights, concerns, application mandates / requirements etc.
  2. Scoring disparities will be identified and discussed. For each application, if a significant disparity exists between reviewer scores (based on a set amount/formula), review team members will collectively examine the application and discuss comments to ensure team members have not missed items within the application that other team members may have identified including application mandates / requirements etc. Application highlights and concerns will also be discussed.
  3. Individual scores must be revised if a reviewer determines that they have missed information or made errors in scoring the application.
  4. Scoring revisions resulting from discussions must be documented on the respective scoring sheet with written commentary to support the revision.
7. Once the post merit-based review meeting has been held and individual scores have been finalized and resubmitted as necessary, the Review Team member scores will be updated, compiled and averaged on the Merit Based Review Summary Score Sheet. At any time during the merit-based review or post-review process:
  1. If it is determined that there was the possibility of impropriety on the part of any reviewer, upon written request and with the approval of the Associate Director, the Department reserves the right to remove from consideration the reviewer scores and comments from consideration. This action must be documented in writing and must include the reason for removal.
  2. If the removal of a reviewer scores and comments results in fewer than 3 reviewers scoring the application, the Department will assign an alternate reviewer to the application. This reviewer will be afforded all the same guidance, instruction and time to complete the review task. Once completed, the process will resume as required.
8. After the updated Review Scores have been compiled and averaged, The Bureau Chief will present the scores, summary comments and reviewer recommendations to the Associate Director for the Office of Community & Positive Youth Development (OCPYD) and the Executive Director of the Serve Illinois Commission. The Bureau Chief will work with the Associate Director (OCPYD) and Executive Director (Serve IL) to prepare funding recommendations for the Director of the Division of Family and Community Services. These recommendations may include consideration of other factors such as geographical distribution, demonstrated need, service capacity, cost effectiveness, demonstrated local community presence, agency past performance as a state grantee etc.
  1. The recommendations will be presented by the OCPYD Associate Director to the Director of the Division of Family and Community Services, or designee for consideration and final award approval.
  2. Upon approval from the Director, the Executive Director will present the recommendations to the Serve Illinois Commission board for notification purposes.
9. While the score/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 review panel to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information.
10. The Bureau Chief will submit all applications in the eGrants portal at which time AmeriCorps State and National will conduct their own review. AmeriCorps State and National will alert the bureau chief of any issues or required resolutions.
11. IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of disaster or other compelling needs.
12. Application Resolution: After the MBR process but before any grant awards are issued, IDHS - Serve Illinois or AmeriCorps State and National may ask an applicant for additional information to address any application compliance or risk issues. If an applicant does not respond promptly to these requests, then the applicant may be denied funding.
13. The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc.
14. The numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. The Department reserves the right to consider any factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, and agency past performance as a State of Illinois 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.
15. In the event of a tie with insufficient funding for all tied applications, the Department may choose to elect one or more of the following options:
  1. Apply one or more of the additional factors for consideration described above to prioritize the applications; or
  2. Partially fund each of the tied applications; or
  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.
16. Anticipated Announcement and State Award Dates:
  1. Announcements anticipated in: 7/31/2025
  2. Anticipated grant start date: Between 8/1/2025 and 9/1/2025
17. 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 - Serve Illinois contact information:
        
        Contact Name: Kristen Bethke
        
        Email address: DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov
        
        Email Subject Line: "agency name 26-444-80-2810-01 Appeal Kristen"
      2. An appeal must be submitted in writing to appeals submission IDHS contact listed above, who will send to the IDHS-Serve Illinois Appeal Review Officer (ARO) for consideration.
      3. An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published.
      4. The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following:
        
        Name and address of the appealing party;
        
        Identification of the grant;
        
        Statement of the reasons for the appeal; and
        
        Supporting documentation, if applicable
    2. Response to appeal
      1. IDHS-Serve Illinois will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within 14 calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
      2. IDHS-Serve Illinois will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.
      3. The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by IDHS-Serve Illinois within the time period set in the request.
    3. Resolution
      1. The ARO will make a recommendation to the Agency Head or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant requested information.
      2. 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.
      3. The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination.
      4. The determination shall include, but not be limited to:
        
        Review of the appeal;
        
        Appeal determination; and
        
        Rationale for the determination.
Risk Review
1. Requirements:
  1. IDHS - Serve Illinois conducts risk assessments for all awardees, prior to the award being issued.
    1. An agency wide Internal Control Questionnaire (ICQ) to be completed by the awardee within the Grantee Portal. The ICQ evaluates fiscal, administrative, and programmatic risk in the following categories:
      1. Quality of Management Systems
      2. Financial and Programmatic Reporting
      3. Ability to Effectively Implement Award Requirements
      4. Awardee Audits
    2. A program specific Programmatic Risk Assessment conducted by the awarding agency to evaluate the following categories:
      1. Programmatic financial stability
      2. Management systems and standards that would affect the program.
      3. Programmatic audit and monitoring findings
      4. Ability to effectively implement program requirements.
      5. External partnerships
      6. Programmatic reporting
    3. Risk assessments are not intended to be punitive in nature, rather they are conducted in order to evaluate the support, technical assistance, and training that may be needed for the awardee and the level of monitoring that is needed for the award.
    4. Risk assessments may result in Specific Conditions being placed on the award to include more frequent monitoring or the implementation of a corrective action plan.
  2. Simplified Acquisition Threshold - Federal and State awards
    1. This award is not anticipated to exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold defined in 48 CFR part 2, subpart 2.1
    2. It is anticipated that grants under this award may receive award over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold define in 48 CFR part2, subpart 2.1. Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold. Therefore, the grantee is subject to the simplified acquisition threshold and related requirements.
      1. Prior to making an award with a total amount greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, IDHS is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. (CFR part 2, subpart 2.1 )
      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 SAM.
      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 applicants' integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under State and Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.206.

7. Award Notices

This section addresses what a successful applicant can expect to receive following selection.
1. State Award Notices
  1. Applicants recommended for funding under this NOFO following the 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 risk assessment (ICQ), programmatic risk assessments (PRA), and the Merit Review.
  2. 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. The 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; pre-award costs are incurred at the non-State entities own risk unless they have received written prior approval to begin performance).
  4. The authorizing document to begin performance is the fully executed Uniform Grant Agreement (UGA) signed by the grants officer, or equivalent. This is the official document that obligates funds. The UGA is sent to the non-State entity via the CSA system. The non-State entity will print and sign the signature page of the UGA and return signature page to DHS.OCA.SignaturePages@illinois.gov. A final signed copy of the UGA will be provided to the non-State entity via an upload into the CSA Tracking system. Note: The Department cannot issue an Agreement until the successful applicant has an approved budget entered into the CSA system.
  5. Applicants who are not eligible due to registration or pre-qualification issues, or late applications will receive a Notice of Ineligibility prior to the Merit-Based Review.
  6. Applicants who are not selected to receive an award following the Merit Review process will receive a Notice of Denial/Non-Selection.

8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

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. Sample of the current IDHS Uniform Grant Agreement
3. 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 the 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 methods exist, namely Advance Payment, Reimbursement, and Working Capital Advance.
  2. The organization awarded funds through this Funding Notice must further agree to comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity including, but not limited to: The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.), The Public Works Employment Discrimination Act (775 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), The United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended) (42 USC 2000a-and 2000H-6), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.), and The Age Discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.). Additional terms and conditions may apply.
  3. Uniform Guidance: All awards made under this Notice must follow the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, in 2 CFR Parts 200 and 2205.
  4. Requests for Monitoring or Payment Integrity Information: IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National will request information from grantees to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 (pdf). If grantees do not respond promptly to these requests, then their funds may be placed on manual hold, reimbursement-only status, or other restrictions as appropriate.
  5. AmeriCorps Terms and Conditions: All grants must follow the FY 2025 AmeriCorps General Terms and Conditions, and the FY 2025 Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for the particular program (when available). These Terms and Conditions contain mandatory compliance and reporting requirements, and applicants should review these instructions prior to any Notice of Grant Award. Current versions of the AmeriCorps General and Program-Specific Terms and Conditions for each of its programs is available on the AmeriCorps Manage Your Grant webpage.
  6. National Service Criminal History Check Requirements: The National Service Criminal History Check, NSCHC, is a specific screening procedure established by law to protect the beneficiaries of national service. Use 45 CFR 2540.200- 2540.207 and National Service Criminal History Check Resources for complete information and FAQs.
  7. The provider must be in a position to begin providing full services between August 1, 2025, and September 1, 2025.
  8. Technology: Agencies awarded funds through this funding notice must have a computer that meets the following minimum specifications for the purpose of utilizing any required DHS web-based reporting system and the receipt/submission of electronic program and fiscal information:
    1. Internet access, preferably high-speed
    2. Email capability
    3. Microsoft Excel
    4. Microsoft Word
    5. Adobe Reader
  9. Training and Technical Assistance: Programs must agree to receive consultation and technical assistance from authorized representatives of the Department. The program and collaborating partners will be required to be in attendance at site visits. Programs will be required to attend regular meetings and training as provided by the Department or a subcontractor of the Department. Programs should budget accordingly (at least quarterly).
  10. Site Visits: The Applicant agrees to participate in site visits as requested by the Department and agrees that program and collaborating partners will attend such site visits if requested.
4. State and Federal Laws and Regulations: The agency awarded funds through this NOFO must agree to comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity including, but not limited to: The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.), The Public Works Employment Discrimination Act (775 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), The United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended) (42 USC 2000a-and 2000H-6), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.), and The Age Discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.)
Reporting
1. Reporting upon execution of the grant agreement shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the UGA and related exhibits which include but is not limited to the following:
  1. Periodic Financial Reports submitted electronically in accordance with instructions in the UGA no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually, unless unusual circumstances exist.
  2. Periodic Programmatic Reports submitted electronically in accordance with instructions in the UGA no more frequent than quarterly and no less frequent than annually, unless unusual circumstances exist.
  3. Close-out Performance Reports and Financial Reports as instructed in the UGA.
  4. Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in the format prescribed by the Department.
    1. Expenditure Documentation and Certification Forms (EDCF) and Periodic Financial Report (PFR)
    2. EDCF monthly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of each month for the preceding month by email.
    3. PFR quarterly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter; Quarter 1 (Start Date [between August 1 and September 1]- December 31st) is due - January 15th, and Quarter 2 (January 1st -March 31st) is due - April 15th), Quarter 3 (April 1 - June 30) is due July 15th; Quarter 4 (July 1-September 30th) is due - October 15th,
    4. The final cumulative fiscal year Periodic Financial Report is due July 15th.
    5. The final cumulative grant term Periodic Financial Report is due October 15th.
    6. Periodic Performance Report (PPR)
    7. The provider will provide monthly status reports to the Department in the format prescribed by the Department.
    8. The Provider will submit quarterly and final Periodic Performance Reports (PPRs) in the format prescribed by the Department.
    9. The quarterly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter; Quarter 1 (Start Date [between August 1 and September 1] - December 31st) is due - January 15th, and Quarter 2 (January 1st -March 31st) is due - April 15th), Quarter 3 (April 1 - June 30) is due July 15th; Quarter 4 (July 1-September 30th) is due - October 15th;
    10. The final cumulative fiscal year Periodic Performance Report is due July 15th;
    11. The final cumulative grant term Periodic Performance Report is due October 15th;
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. Non-compliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List (SSPL).
    15. Annual Audit in conformance with Audit Requirements set forth in the grant agreement.
    16. Recordkeeping Requirements: Each provider shall maintain full and complete records of program operations in compliance with state records retention requirements. Records are defined as those documents that capture program activity, participant information and outcomes, and fiscal data. Providers shall comply with the Local Records Act, which regulates the destruction and preservation of public records within the State of Illinois.
    17. Presuming funding is provided for the full award + renewal period, the Provider will be required to maintain until June 30, 2032, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request.
    18. Non-compliance with any of the above reporting requirements, including timeliness of reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List.
  5. 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 2 CFR 200. Noncompliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop-Payment List.
  6. Annual Audit in conformance with Audit Requirements set forth in the grant agreement.
  7. Record keeping requirements: Each provider shall maintain full and complete records of program operations in compliance with state records retention requirements. Records are defined as those documents that capture program activity, participant information and outcomes, and fiscal data. Providers shall comply with the Local Records Act, which regulates the destruction and preservation of public records within the State of Illinois.
  8. Presuming funding is provided for the full award + renewal period, the Provider will be required to maintain until June 30, 2032, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request.
  9. Non-compliance with any of the identified reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List (SSPL).

9. Other Information

Technical Assistance Conference Information:
1. IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about the funding opportunity and the web-based application system. IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National strongly encourages all applicants to participate in these sessions. Information for these technical assistance calls is available on the AmeriCorps' Funding Opportunities website.
2. Resources applicants need to effectively manage their grant award and training, and technical assistance materials are found on the Manage Your Grant webpage.
3. IDHS - Serve Illinois will provide one web-based Technical Assistance (TA) Session for potential applicants. Refer to the beginning of this document for the date, time, and registration details. Attendance is NOT a requirement of the application although it is strongly encouraged. During this session, IDHS - Serve Illinois staff will provide an overview of the program and expectations of the grant. IDHS - Serve Illinois staff will devote a significant amount of time responding to questions from potential applicants.
Re-Focusing Funding: IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National reserves the right to re-focus program dollars under this Notice in the event of disaster or other compelling needs.
Public Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for collection of information under this Notice of Funding is estimated to average six hours per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing the application and reporting forms. IDHS - Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps State and National informs people who may respond to this Notice of Funding that they are not required to respond unless the OMB control number and expiration date are current valid. Use 5 CFR 1320.5(b)(2)(i). This collection is approved under OMB Control #: 3045-0047, Application Instructions, State and National Competitive, New and Continuation, Expiration Date: September 30, 2026.
Privacy Act Statement: The Privacy Act of 1974, 5U.S.C §552a (pdf), requires that we notify applicants that the information requested under this Notice of Funding is collected pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §12592 and 12615 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (pdf) as amended, and 42 U.S.C. §4953 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (pdf) as amended.
1. Purposes and Uses - The information requested is collected for the purposes of reviewing grant applications and granting funding requests. Routine uses may include disclosure of the information to Federal, state, or local agencies pursuant to lawfully authorized requests. assistance.
2. Effects of Nondisclosure - The information requested is voluntary; however, to be a recipient of this grant program, disclosure of personal or sensitive information is required to receive federal benefits.
Mandatory Forms and Submission:
1. Applicants must complete their application in eGrants, AmeriCorps' web-based application system.
2. Applications must be completed by the due date listed in THIS NOFO.
3. Applicants must complete and submit the following to IDHS/Serve Illinois at DHS.ServeIllinois.NOFO@illinois.gov: