Direct Services Grant Program (Funding Opportunities: DHS-11-CIS-011-001 and DHS-11-CIS-011-002)

FY 2011 Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

1. How is the Direct Services Grant Program different this year?

The FY 2011 program is different from FY 2010 in several important ways, including:

• The Direct Services Grant Program has been divided into two (2) separate funding announcements: one for citizenship instruction only and one for citizenship instruction and naturalization application services.
• The period of performance has been extended to two (2) years. The renewal from year one to year two will be dependent on satisfactory performance.
• Those organizations providing citizenship instruction only will receive less maximum funding ($150,000) than those providing both citizenship instruction and naturalization application services ($200,000).
• For those providing naturalization application services, there is a new eligibility requirement that applicants must be recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and have a BIA accredited representative, or have an attorney, either on or off-site, who provides or supervises the naturalization application services.

2. How are the two Direct Services funding opportunities different?

The Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction Only funding opportunity is for organizations with demonstrated recent experience providing citizenship instruction. The maximum award is $150,000 for each recipient ($75,000 per year). Subject to the availability of funding, approximately $1.5 million in funding will go to 10 recipients.

The Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services funding opportunity is for organizations with demonstrated recent experience providing citizenship instruction and naturalization application services. The maximum award is $200,000 for each recipient ($100,000 per year). Subject to the availability of funding, approximately $4 million in funding will go to 20 recipients. For this funding opportunity, there is an eligibility requirement that applicants must have a BIA accredited representative or an attorney, either on or off-site, who provides or supervises the naturalization application services.

3. Are partnerships allowed under the Direct Services funding opportunities?

Yes, partnerships are allowed and encouraged. A partner organization is considered a “sub-awardee” if the organization will receive a portion of the grant funding to provide additional or complementary direct services. If a sub-awardee is proposed, the applicant must provide the citizenship instruction. The sub-awardee may provide additional citizenship instruction, naturalization application services, or both. The applicant must complete a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the sub-awardee. The applicant must show how it will monitor the sub-awardee’s performance and ensure that the sub-awardee complies with all grant award conditions and data reporting requirements. Sub-awardees must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and will be responsible for financial reporting. 

4. Can a partner organization be listed on multiple applications?

Yes, however DHS reserves the right to contact all organizations included in the application prior to making an award.

5. Is sub-contracting permitted?

Organizations may propose to sub-contract specific tasks, such as hiring additional citizenship instructors on a contractual basis. However, the applicant must directly manage the citizenship instruction and must demonstrate its ability to successfully manage all aspects of the grant-funded project, including financial management. 

6. How many Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) should receive services for the funds and time allotted?

DHS does not require that a specific number of LPRs receive citizenship preparation services. For a comprehensive list of selection criteria, please review Section V.B. of the funding opportunity announcement titled “Evaluation Criteria.”

7. Can my organization propose to provide general ESL classes or Adult Basic Education under the Direct Services funding opportunities?

Grant funding is for citizenship instruction to prepare LPRs for naturalization. Citizenship instruction must include both civics-focused ESL and U.S. history and government (i.e., civics) instruction. Applicants may not propose to use grant funds for other types of instruction. 

8. For organizations applying to the Direct Services – Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services funding opportunity, is the organization required to be recognized and/or accredited by the Board of Immigration Appeals? If so, how does our organization prove BIA recognition?

Applicants who are eligible for this funding opportunity must be recognized by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and have a BIA accredited representative, or have an attorney, either on or off-site, who provides or supervises the naturalization application services. It is not required to provide proof of BIA recognition or accreditation in order to apply. We may ask for additional documentation before making an award.