Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACF OCS ET 1959
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (RCIP) funding opportunity is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Community Services (OCS). It was created to help CSBG-eligible entities and partners quickly adapt and improve community-based service models in response to urgent needs heightened by COVID-19, while also laying groundwork for longer-term modernization of local service systems. The central idea is not only to respond to immediate crises, but to use what is learned during rapid implementation to reshape services so they better match evolving community needs going forward.
Projects funded under this announcement are meant to be practical, community-driven efforts that operate in one or more priority areas defined by OCS. The examples provided show the program is looking for solutions that connect emergency response with longer-term stability for people with low incomes. Priority concepts include tighter coordination with public health and emergency management partners to improve urgent health and social outcomes; redesigning service delivery for physical distancing and safety (including remote or technology-enabled services and better cross-provider coordination); strengthening how individuals and families adapt to disruptions through approaches such as two-generation and intergenerational models; making community-level structural changes that "reinvent the safety net" rather than simply adding temporary stopgaps; developing new supports for families affected by school schedule changes and disrupted childcare; and helping people prepare for the post-COVID labor market through pathways to high-demand jobs and targeted training.
A defining feature of this grant is that it is structured as a cooperative agreement with a strong learning-and-improvement component, not just a standard implementation grant. OCS plans to select up to 20 regionally diverse projects and place them into a Rapid-Cycle Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach. In practice, that means grantees are expected to test improvements in short cycles, collect and review data frequently, make quick adjustments, and document what works (and what does not) in near real time. OCS will actively support grantees throughout this process, including guidance on rapid-cycle evaluation methods, help with reporting expectations, and assistance with the required data collection so that results can be compared and lessons can be shared across projects.
Key administrative details include the opportunity number HHS-2021-ACF-OCS-ET-1959 and CFDA 93.569. The application window opened June 16, 2021, with an original closing date of July 26, 2021, and electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline date. The award ceiling is $250,000 per project, and OCS anticipated making about 20 awards. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education), and additional entities as allowed under the announcement’s eligibility clarification. Overall, the opportunity is designed for organizations that can act quickly, coordinate locally, and commit to a disciplined, evidence-informed improvement process while delivering services that meet urgent community needs.Apply for HHS 2021 ACF OCS ET 1959
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OCS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.569.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 16, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2021 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: CSBG CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (RCIP)
What is the CSBG CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (RCIP) funding opportunity?
RCIP is a discretionary grant program offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Community Services (OCS). It was created to help CSBG-eligible entities and partners quickly adapt and improve community-based service models in response to urgent needs heightened by COVID-19, while also building a foundation for longer-term modernization of local service systems.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The program is designed to support practical, community-driven projects that address immediate COVID-19-related needs while using rapid implementation learning to reshape services for the future. The goal is not only crisis response, but also improving how local services match evolving community needs over time.
Who is the federal sponsor for this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by HHS/ACF through OCS (Office of Community Services).
Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, with a strong learning-and-improvement component. OCS is expected to play an active support role during the project period, particularly around rapid-cycle evaluation, reporting expectations, and required data collection.
What makes RCIP different from a typical implementation grant?
A defining feature is the Rapid-Cycle Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach. Grantees are expected to test improvements in short cycles, collect and review data frequently, make quick adjustments, and document what works (and what does not) in near real time so lessons can be compared and shared across projects.
How many awards were expected under this announcement?
OCS anticipated making about 20 awards and selecting up to 20 regionally diverse projects.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) per project?
The award ceiling is $250,000 per project.
What are the priority areas or types of projects OCS is looking for?
Projects are meant to operate in one or more OCS-defined priority areas. Examples described in the announcement include efforts that connect emergency response with longer-term stability for people with low incomes, such as:
- Strengthening coordination with public health and emergency management partners to improve urgent health and social outcomes
- Redesigning service delivery to support physical distancing and safety, including remote or technology-enabled services and improved cross-provider coordination
- Helping individuals and families adapt to disruptions using approaches such as two-generation and intergenerational models
- Making community-level structural changes that aim to "reinvent the safety net" rather than only adding temporary stopgaps
- Developing new supports for families affected by school schedule changes and disrupted childcare
- Helping people prepare for the post-COVID labor market through pathways to high-demand jobs and targeted training
Does this funding focus only on immediate COVID-19 response?
No. The central idea is to respond to urgent needs heightened by COVID-19 and also use rapid-cycle learning to modernize and improve local service systems for longer-term impact.
What is expected of grantees under the Rapid-Cycle Evaluation and CQI approach?
Based on the description provided, grantees are expected to implement improvements in short cycles, collect and review data frequently, make quick adjustments informed by that data, and document results in near real time. This is intended to capture lessons learned across projects and strengthen service models going forward.
What kind of support does OCS provide during the project?
OCS plans to actively support grantees, including providing guidance on rapid-cycle evaluation methods, helping with reporting expectations, and assisting with required data collection so results can be compared across projects and shared.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), nonprofit organizations without 501(c)(3) status (also excluding institutions of higher education), and additional entities as allowed under the announcement's eligibility clarification.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply as nonprofits?
No. The eligibility description provided explicitly excludes institutions of higher education from the nonprofit categories listed.
What is the opportunity number for this announcement?
The opportunity number is HHS-2021-ACF-OCS-ET-1959.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The CFDA number is 93.569.
When did the application period open?
The application window opened on June 16, 2021.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date was July 26, 2021.
What time were electronic submissions due on the deadline date?
Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 p.m. ET on the deadline date.
What kinds of organizations is this opportunity designed for?
It is designed for organizations that can act quickly, coordinate locally, and commit to a disciplined, evidence-informed improvement process while delivering services that address urgent community needs.
What does "regionally diverse projects" mean in this context?
The announcement indicates OCS planned to select up to 20 projects that are regionally diverse, meaning selected projects would represent different regions rather than being concentrated in a single area.
What does OCS mean by "reinvent the safety net"?
Within the examples provided, this refers to community-level structural changes that go beyond temporary stopgaps and instead reshape how services are organized and delivered to better meet ongoing and evolving needs.
Is the program focused on remote or technology-enabled services?
Remote or technology-enabled services are specifically mentioned as an example of how service delivery could be redesigned to support physical distancing and safety, along with improved cross-provider coordination.
Does the opportunity include workforce or job training-related projects?
Yes. One of the priority concepts described includes helping people prepare for the post-COVID labor market through pathways to high-demand jobs and targeted training.
Does the opportunity include supports related to childcare and school disruptions?
Yes. The examples include developing new supports for families affected by school schedule changes and disrupted childcare.
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