National Ombudsman Resource Center

The Administration for Community Living, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking a single recipient to operate the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center through a three-year cooperative agreement beginning September 30, 2026, and ending September 29, 2029. The primary purpose is to provide comprehensive technical assistance, training, and resource development to all 53 State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs and their statewide networks, with the goal of enhancing their ability to advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. This cooperative agreement, solicited under HHS-2026-ACL-AOA-OMRC-0128, is not a traditional contract but involves substantial federal involvement, with ACL maintaining active oversight in planning, implementation, and evaluation. The estimated total funding is $1,549,221, with no option periods, and the work is to be performed nationwide without a designated physical location. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations and must provide proof of status, current indirect cost rate agreements or elect the de minimis rate, resumes for key personnel, job descriptions for unfilled roles, organizational charts, and letters of commitment from partner organizations. A unique entity identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov is mandatory, and the applicant must maintain active registration throughout the award period. Proposed projects will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, prioritizing the clarity and feasibility of the response (37 points), potential impact on older adults and people with disabilities (31 points), demonstrated resources and organizational capabilities including a detailed budget narrative (22 points), and the strength of the purpose and need statement (10 points). All deliverables must be Section 508 compliant, align with ACL’s strategic priorities, and adhere to 2 CFR Part 200. Performance reporting, including semi-annual and final reports, must be submitted through ACL’s Grant Solutions system. Personnel compensation is capped at Executive Level II rates, and any subawards over $30,000 trigger reporting obligations under the Federal Subaward Reporting System. Proposals must be submitted as a single PDF package through Grants.gov by July 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with a strict 20-page limit on the project narrative and no page limits on attachments. No CAGE codes, invoicing systems like WAWF, or physical delivery requirements are