National Technical Assistance Center on Kindship and Grandfamilies

The National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies is a three-year federal cooperative agreement administered by the Administration for Community Living under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with performance beginning September 30, 2026, and concluding September 29, 2029. The center’s mission is to strengthen the National Aging Services Network’s capacity to support grandfamilies and kinship caregivers by scaling proven models that improve the health, safety, and well-being of children, caregivers, and biological parents. This includes delivering nationwide technical assistance, developing accessible resources, facilitating peer learning, coordinating emergency response planning, and ensuring alignment with the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. All materials and digital platforms must meet Section 508 accessibility standards, and the recipient must maintain strict compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 as of October 1, 2025. A mandatory 25% cost share from non-federal sources is required, and all outputs—including publications, websites, and training materials—are subject to pre-approval by ACL before public release. Applicants must submit a comprehensive proposal through Grants.gov, including a 20-page project narrative, budget narrative, SF-424 and SF-424A forms, proof of nonprofit status, an indirect cost agreement if applicable, and detailed resumes or job descriptions for key personnel. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale weighted toward response (37 points), impact (31 points), and resources and capabilities including budget narrative (22 points), with award decisions made through a trade-off process that considers merit, strategic alignment with ACL priorities, cost reasonableness, and past performance. Post-award obligations include semi-annual performance and financial reporting via SF-425, FFATA reporting for subawards over $30,000, monthly coordination with ACL staff, and participation in steering committee functions. The recipient will operate nationwide with no physical performance location restriction, engaging State Units on Aging, Area Agencies on Aging, and Tribal organizations. Only electronic submissions using PDF format in Times New Roman or Arial 11-point font are accepted, with all documents required to be uploaded individually to Grants.gov by July 22, 2026. Applicants must hold a valid Unique Entity Identifier via SAM.gov, but no socioeconomic or small business certifications are required. Key contacts include Kari Benson for program inquiries and Taniele Chandler for financial matters, though no