Museum Grants for African American History and Culture - FY18 Notice of Funding Opportunity

African American History & Culture, Sparks - Museums, and Native American Native Hawaiian – Museums - Notice of Funding Opportunities

FY18 OMS AACH Final 2017-08-25

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture - FY18 Notice of Funding Opportunity

OMB: 3137-0095

⚠️ Notice: This form may be outdated. More recent filings and information on OMB 3137-0095 can be found here:

Document [docx]

Download: docx | pdf

Shape1

FY18 OMS AAHC Clearance NOFO 2017-08-23

museum grants for african american history and culture pROGRAM – FY18 Notice of

funding opportunity

Table of Contents

Home

A. Program Description

A1. What is this grant program?

A2. What are the indicators of successful projects?

A3. What are the IMLS agency level goals?

A4. What are the project categories?

A5. Where can I find the authorizing statute and regulations for this funding opportunity?

B. Federal Award Information

C. Eligibility Information

C1. What are the eligibility requirements for this program?

C2. What are the cost sharing requirements for this program?

C3. Other information.

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. How can we find the application package?

D2. What content and form is required to make a complete application?

D3. What are the registration requirements for submitting an application?

D4. When and how must we submit our application?

D5. Is there an intergovernmental review?

D6. Are there funding restrictions?

E. Application Review Information

F. Award Administration Information

G. Contacts

H. Other Information

I. Appendices

View by Section

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Program –

FY18 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Federal Awarding Agency:	Institute of Museum and Library Services
Funding Opportunity Title:	Museum Grants for African American History and Culture
Announcement Type:	Notice of Funding Opportunity
Funding Opportunity Number:	AAHC-FY18
Catalog of Federal Financial Assistance (CFDA) Number:	45.309
Due Date:	Submit through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on December 1, 2017.
Anticipated Date of Notification of Award Decisions:	July 2018 (subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion)
Beginning Date of Period of Performance:	Not earlier than August 1, 2018. Projects must begin on August 1, September 1, or October 1, 2018.

Equal Opportunity

IMLS-funded programs do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. For further information, email the Civil Rights Officer at CivilRights@imls.gov or write to the Civil Rights Officer, Institute of Museum and Library Services, 955 L’Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC, 20024-2135.

A. Program Description

A1. What is this grant program?

The goals of Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program are to support projects that improve the operations, care of collections, and development of professional management at African American museums.

A2. What are indicators of successful projects?

Indicators (characteristics) of successful projects in the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Program are as follows:

Institutional Impact: The project improves the operations, care of collections, or development of professional management of the museum.
In-depth Knowledge: The project design reflects a thorough understanding of current practice and knowledge about the subject matter.
Project-based Design: The work plan consists of a set of logical, interrelated activities tied directly to addressing the key need or challenge identified in the application.
Demonstrable Results: The project generates measurable results that tie directly to the need or challenge it was designed to address.

A3. What are the IMLS agency-level goals?

The mission of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. We provide leadership through research, policy development, and grant making.

U.S. museums and libraries are at the forefront in the movement to create a nation of learners. As stewards of cultural and natural heritage with rich, authentic content, libraries and museums provide learning experiences for everyone. In FY2018, each award under this program will support one of the following three goals of the IMLS strategic plan, Creating a Nation of Learners:

IMLS places the learner at the center and supports engaging experiences in libraries and museums that prepare people to be full participants in their local communities and our global society.
IMLS promotes museums and libraries as strong community anchors that enhance civic engagement, cultural opportunities, and economic vitality.
IMLS supports exemplary stewardship of museum and library collections and promotes the use of technology to facilitate discovery of knowledge and cultural heritage.

The goals focus on achieving positive public outcomes for communities and individuals; supporting the unique role of museums and libraries in preserving and providing access to collections and content; and promoting library, museum, and information service policies that ensure access to information for all Americans.

IMLS places importance on diversity and inclusion. This may be reflected in a project in a wide range of ways, including efforts to serve: individuals of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds; persons with disabilities; persons with limited functional literacy or information skills; individuals having difficulty using a library or museum; underserved urban and rural communities; and children from families with incomes below the poverty level. This may also be reflected in efforts to recruit future professionals in the library or museum fields as well as strategies in building or enhancing access to collections and information.

A4. What are the project categories?

There are no project categories in the AAHC program. You may apply for projects including, but not limited to, the following activities:

Fostering partnerships among museums and institutions of higher education to address challenges facing the African American museum community;
Training and professional development for staff and volunteers;
Creating and supporting internships and fellowships, including recruitment, supervision, mentoring, and training for interns and fellows;
Developing collection plans, interpretive plans, or strategic plans using consultants, researchers, and other sources of professional expertise;
Implementing recommendations or action plans from planning activities;
Exhibition development, design, and fabrication (non-construction);
Interpretive and educational programs, product development, and delivery;
Design and printing of educational resources including training manuals, toolkits, and curricula that support educational programs and exhibitions;
Creating environments for community learning, debate, and dialogue;
Audience research and evaluation, including utilizing an evaluation consultant to help develop achievable performance goals and measurable outcomes;
Cataloging, inventorying, documenting, and registration of collections;
Rehousing collections and environmental improvements (non-construction) for museum collections storage and exhibit areas;
Installing, migrating to, and upgrading collections databases to improve collections management, collections-related information, and/or to facilitate access and discovery; and
Digitization of collections designed to enhance outreach, expand access, or improve collections management.

Click here for samples of recently funded applications in the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program.

Note: There are also funding restrictions that could affect the eligibility of a project; please consult Section D.6 below for details.

A5. Where can I find the authorizing statute and regulations for this funding opportunity?

Statute: 20 U.S.C. § 9101 et seq.; in particular, § 9173 (Museum services activities); and 20 U.S.C. § 80r (National Museum of African American History and Culture), in particular 20 U.S.C. § 80r-5 (Educational and liaison programs).

Regulations: 45 C.F.R. ch. XI and 2 C.F.R. ch. XXXI

Note: You are required to follow the IMLS regulations that are in effect at the time of the award.

Note: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance on Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) can be found at 2 C.F.R. pt. 200. With certain IMLS-specific additions, IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. pt. 3187 formally adopt the 2 C.F.R. pt. 200 Uniform Guidance.

B. Federal Award Information

Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this announcement	$1,481,000
Anticipated number of awards	16
Expected amounts of individual awards	$5,000–$25,000	No cost share permitted.
	$25,001–$150,000	At least 1:1 cost share.
Average amount of funding per award experienced in previous years	$99,000
Anticipated start dates for new awards	Not earlier than August 1, 2018. Projects must begin on August 1, September 1, or October 1, 2018.
Anticipated period of performance	August 2018–September 2021. Project activities may be carried out for up to three years.
Type of assistance instrument	Grant

The funding in the above Federal Award Information table is subject to the availability of funds and IMLS discretion. IMLS is not bound by any estimates in this announcement.

Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete with applications for new awards.

Contingent upon the availability of funds, the quality of applications, and IMLS discretion, IMLS may make additional awards from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

C. Eligibility Information

C1. What are the eligibility requirements for this program?

To be eligible for an award under this AAHC notice of funding opportunity, you must be an organization that meets all three of the following criteria:

You must be either a unit of State or local government or be a private, nonprofit organization that has tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code;
You must be located in one of the 50 States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau; and
You must qualify as one of the following:

A museum whose primary purpose, as reflected in its mission, is African American life, art, history, and/or culture, encompassing: the period of slavery; the era of Reconstruction; the Harlem renaissance; the civil rights movement; and other periods of the African American diaspora; and using a professional staff, is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes; owns or uses tangible objects, either animate or inanimate; cares for these objects; and exhibits these objects to the general public on a regular basis through facilities that it owns or operates.

What types of institutions are included in the term “museum”?
If they otherwise meet these requirements, “museums” include, but are not limited to, aquariums, arboretums, art museums, botanical gardens, children’s/youth museums, general museums (those having two or more significant disciplines), historic houses/sites, history museums, natural history/anthropology museums, nature centers, planetariums, science/technology centers, specialized museums (limited to a single distinct subject), and zoological parks.
What does it mean to be “using a professional staff”?
An institution uses a professional staff if it employs at least one staff member, or the full-time equivalent, whether paid or unpaid, primarily engaged in the acquisition, care, or exhibition to the public of objects owned or used by the institution.
What does it mean to “exhibit objects to the general public”?
An institution exhibits objects to the general public if such exhibition is a primary purpose of the institution. An institution that exhibits objects to the general public for at least 120 days a year is deemed to exhibit objects to the general public on a regular basis.
An institution which does not have the exhibition of objects as a primary purpose and/or does not exhibit objects to the public for at least 120 days a year may be determined to be eligible as a museum under certain circumstances. For more information, please see 2 C.F.R. § 3187.3.

(b) A public or private nonprofit agency which is responsible for the operation of a museum that meets the eligibility criteria in 1, 2, and 3(a) above may apply on behalf of the museum;

(c) A museum service organization or association whose primary purpose, as reflected in its mission, is to support museums with a primary purpose of African American life, art, history and/or culture; or

(d) A historically black college or university, as defined by the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, 20 U.S.C. Section 1061, and pursuant to Executive Order 13256, dated February 12, 2002.

If my museum is located within a parent organization, can my museum apply on its own?

A museum located within a parent organization that is a State or local government or multipurpose nonprofit entity, such as a municipality, university, historical society, foundation, or cultural center, may apply on its own behalf if the museum:

is able to independently fulfill all the eligibility requirements listed in the above three criteria;
functions as a discrete unit within the parent organization;
has its own fully segregated and itemized operating budget; and
has the authority to make the application on its own.

When any of the last three conditions cannot be met, a museum may only apply through its parent organization.

Is a nonprofit organization if it is affiliated with a museum eligible?

IMLS may determine that a nonprofit organization that is affiliated with a museum is eligible for this program where the organization can demonstrate that it has the ability to administer the project and can ensure compliance with the terms of this Notice of Funding Opportunity and the applicable law, including the Assurances and Certifications. The applicant organization must submit an agreement from the museum that details the activities that the applicant and museum will perform and binds the museum to the statements and assurances made in the grant application.

Native American tribal organizations may apply if they otherwise meet the above eligibility requirements.

Note: Please consult Section D below to see if documentation must be submitted to support an eligibility determination (proof of private, nonprofit institution status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service, if applying as a private, nonprofit institution). Note that there are also funding restrictions that could affect the eligibility of a project; please consult Section D.6 below for details.

C2. What are the cost-sharing requirements for this program?

For the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program, the requirements to provide cost share from non-federal funds differ according to funding level.

AAHC Funding Level

Cost Share Requirement

$5,000–$25,000

No cost share permitted.

NOTE: If you include cost share in your budget for funding at the $5,000–$25,000 level, your application will be rejected from further consideration.

$25,001–$150,000

At least 1:1 cost share

NOTE: If you do not include at least 1:1 cost share in your project budget, your application will be rejected from further consideration.

NOTE: Cost sharing that appears in your project budget should be carefully calculated. Grantees are expected to meet their cost share commitments.

Click here for further information on cost sharing [internal link to Cost Share doclet].

C3. Other Information

C3a. How many applications can we submit under this announcement?

An applicant organization is subject to the following under this announcement:

If your museum submits an application at the $5,000–$25,000 funding level, you are limited to one application to this program. If your museum submits an application at the $25,001–$150,000 level, there is no limit on the number of applications your museum may submit to this program.

C3b. What if our organization fails to meet an eligibility criterion by the time of the application deadline?

IMLS will not review applications from ineligible applicants. We will notify you if your application will not be reviewed because your institution is determined to be ineligible.

C3c. What if our organization fails to meet an eligibility criterion at the time of award?

IMLS will not make awards to ineligible applicants. In order to receive an IMLS award, you must be eligible, be in compliance with applicable requirements, and be in good standing on all active IMLS awards.

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. How can we find the application package?

This announcement contains all application materials needed to apply. Use one of the following identifiers to locate the application package in Grants.gov:

CFDA No. 45.309, or
Funding Opportunity Number: AAHC-FY18

D1a. Can we request an audio recording of this announcement?

Upon request, we will provide an audio recording of this publication. Use Teletype (TTY/TDD) (for persons with hearing difficulty): 202-653-4614.

D1b. Can we request a paper copy of this announcement?

Upon request, we will provide a paper copy of this publication. Call 202-653-4789.

D2. What content and form is required to make a complete application?

The Table of Application Components below will help you prepare a complete application. You will find links to more information and instructions for each application component in the table. Applications missing any Required Documents or Conditionally Required Documents from this list will be considered incomplete and will be rejected from further consideration.

D2a. Table of Application Components

Component	Format	File name to use
Required Documents
The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)	Grants.gov form	n/a
Abstract (one page max.)	PDF document	Abstract.pdf
IMLS Program Information Sheet	IMLS PDF form	Programinfo.pdf
Organizational Profile (one page max.)	PDF document	Organizationalprofile.pdf
Narrative (five pages maximum)	PDF document	Narrative.pdf
Schedule of Completion (one page per year max.)	PDF document	Scheduleofcompletion.pdf
IMLS Budget Form	IMLS PDF form	Budget.pdf
Budget Justification	PDF document	Budgetjustification.pdf
List of Key Project Staff and Consultants (one page max.)	PDF document	Projectstaff.pdf
Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants that appear on the list above (two pages each max.)	PDF document	Resumes.pdf
Digital Product Form	IMLS PDF document	Digitalproduct.pdf
Conditionally Required Documents Please check the Guidance in Section D.2.d to see if these conditions apply to your organization
Proof of Private, Nonprofit Status	PDF document	Proofnonprofit.pdf
Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement	PDF document	Indirectcostrate.pdf
Supporting Documents
Information that supplements the application Narrative and supports the SF-424S Project Description	PDF document	Supportingdoc1.pdf Supportingdoc2.pdf Supportingdoc3.pdf

D2b. How should we format, name, and sequence the application components?

Document format: Aside from the SF-424S, which is created in Grants.gov, all application components must be submitted as PDF documents.
Page limits: Note page limits listed in the table above. We will remove any pages over the limit, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.
Naming convention: Use the naming conventions indicated in the table above. IMPORTANT: You are limited to using the following characters in all attachment file names: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, underscore (_), hyphen (-), space, period. If you use any other characters when naming your attachment files, your application may be rejected.
Attachment order: In Grants.gov, attach all application components in the sequence listed in the table above. Use all available spaces in the “Attachments Form” first. Attach any additional application components using the “Other Attachment File(s)” boxes.
Complete applications: Use the table above as a checklist to ensure that you have created and attached all necessary application components.

Each document you create must be converted to a PDF before you submit it.

D2c. Instructions for Required Documents

The Application for Federal Domestic Assistance/Short Organizational Form (SF-424S)

The SF-424S is part of the application package that you download from Grants.gov. Click here for instructions on completing the SF-424S [internal link to How to Fill Out the SF-424S doclet].

Abstract

Write this one-page document and save it as a PDF, addressing the following:

Who is the lead applicant and, if applicable, who are the collaborators?
What need, problem, or challenge will your project address, and how was it identified?
What are the activities you will carry out and in what time frame?
Who or what will benefit from your project?
What are your project’s intended outcomes?
How will you measure your success in achieving your intended outcomes?

This Abstract may be used for public information purposes, so it should be written for experts as well as a general audience. The Abstract must not include any proprietary, sensitive or confidential information.

IMLS Program Information Sheet

Download and complete the IMLS Program Information Sheet (PDF, 318 KB). Click here for instructions on completing the IMLS Program Information Sheet. [internal link to the IMLS Program Information Sheet doclet]. See Appendix Four for instructions for completing the IMLS Program Information Sheet.

Organizational Profile

Create a one-page Organizational Profile and save it as a PDF. Click here for instructions on creating an Organizational Profile [internal link to the Organizational Profile doclet].

Narrative

Write a Narrative that addresses the questions listed below and save it as a PDF. Limit the Narrative to five numbered pages. We will remove any pages above the page limit, and we will not send them to reviewers as part of your application.

Organize your narrative using the section headings: Project Justification, Project Work Plan, and Project Results.
Consider each narrative question and be mindful of each section’s review criteria.
Be clear and concise with a minimum of technical jargon and acronyms.
Use supporting documents to provide supplementary materials.
Make sure your organization’s name appears at the top of each page.
Use at least 0.5-inch margins on all sides and a font size of at least twelve points.

Please be advised that reviewers may also choose to visit your organization's website, as listed on the SF-424S form provided with your application.

1. Project Justification

What do you propose to do?
What need, problem, or challenge will your project address, and how was it identified?
Who or what will benefit from your project?
How will your project enhance the capacity of your institution?
How will your project address the goals of the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (as described above in Section A.1)

Review Criteria:

Is the project clearly explained?
Is the need, problem, or challenge to be addressed clearly identified and supported by relevant evidence?
Are the people who will benefit from the project clearly identified and have they been involved in project planning the project?
If applicable, are the collections and/or records that are the focus of the project and their current condition described and quantified in sufficient detail?
Are the ways in which this project enhances the capacity of the institution specific, actionable, and measurable?

2. Project Work Plan

What specific activities, including evaluation and performance measurements, will you carry out?
Who will plan, implement, and manage your project?
When and in what sequence will your activities occur?
What are the risks to the project and are they accounted for in the work plan?
What time, financial, personnel, and other resources will you need to carry out the activities? Note: You must include $2,000 per year in award funds for travel to attend IMLS-designated meetings.
How will you track your progress toward achieving your intended results?
How and with whom will you share your project’s results?

Review Criteria:

Are the proposed activities informed by theory and practice?
Are the proposed evaluation activities and performance measurements appropriate for the project? Will they result in valid, reliable, and generalizable findings?
Do the identified staff, partners, consultants, and service providers possess the experience and skills necessary to complete the work successfully?
Is the schedule of work realistic and achievable?
Are the goals, assumptions, and risks clearly stated?
Are the time, personnel, financial resources, and other resources identified appropriate for the scope and scale of the project?
Is a clear methodology described for tracking the project’s progress and adjusting course when necessary?
Is there an effective plan for communicating results and/or sharing discoveries?

3. Project Results

Referring to the Performance Goal(s) selected on the Program Information Sheet prepared for your application, choose one or more Performance Measure Statement(s) appropriate for your project and describe how you will collect and report the corresponding data.
Referring to your Project Justification, describe your project’s intended results that will address the need, problem, or challenge you have identified. It should focus on the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Measure Statement(s) referenced above.
How will the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and/or attitudes of the intended audience change as a result of your project?
What tangible products will result from your project?
How will you sustain the benefit(s) of your project?

Review Criteria:

Is the plan for collecting and reporting data corresponding to the Performance Goal(s) and Performance Measure Statement(s) selected for the project well designed and feasible?
Are the project’s intended results clearly articulated, realistic, actionable, and linked to the need, problem, or challenge addressed by the project?
Is the plan to effect change in knowledge, skills, behaviors, and/or attitudes solidly grounded and appropriately structured?
Will the tangible products be useful?
Is there a reasonable and practical plan for sustaining the benefits of the project beyond the conclusion of this award?

Schedule of Completion

Create a Schedule of Completion and save it as a PDF. Click here for instructions on creating a Schedule of Completion [internal link to Schedule of Completion doclet].

IMLS Budget Form

Download and complete the current IMLS Budget Form (PDF, 212 KB) [insert link]. Click here for instructions on completing the budget form [internal link to How to Fill Out the IMLS Budget Form doclet]. Java Script must be enabled.

Budget Justification

Write a Budget Justification and save it as a PDF. Click here for instructions on creating the Budget Justification [internal link on How to Complete the Budget Justification doclet].

List of Key Project Staff and Consultants

Write a one-page list of only staff and consultants whose expertise is essential to the success of the project and save it as a PDF. Do not list the entire staff involved in the project. If you cannot identify key project staff by the application deadline, then list the position title instead. This list must include the Project Director listed in Item 7 of the SF-424S.

Resumes of Key Project Staff and Consultants that Appear on the List Above

Provide resumes of no more than two pages each, as a PDF, for every key project staff member and key consultant identified on the List of Key Project Staff and Consultants described above. If you cannot identify key project staff by the application deadline, then submit position descriptions instead. A position description does not identify a specific individual; it identifies the qualities and range of experience and education necessary to successfully implement and complete project activities.

Digital Product Form

IMLS defines digital products very broadly (digital content, resources, assets, software, or datasets). You should review all of the questions in the Digital Product form to determine if your proposal contains any digital products. If your application is not creating ANY digital products, please check the box indicating no products at the beginning of the form. If you are creating digital products, you must complete the Digital Product Form by providing for each section the corresponding information or marking “Not applicable for this project” in each respective section. In any event, your application will be considered incomplete if it does not include a completed Digital Product Form. Click here for Guidance for Projects that Develop Digital Products [internal link to Guidance for Projects that Develop Digital Products doclet].

D2d. Conditionally Required Documents

If either of the situations below (nonprofit status or federally negotiated indirect cost rate) applies for your proposal, you must submit the appropriate documents. Failure to provide a conditionally required document will result in your application being considered incomplete and rejected from further consideration.

Proof of Private, Nonprofit Status

If you are applying as a private, nonprofit institution, you must submit a copy of the letter from the Internal Revenue Service indicating your eligibility for nonprofit status under the applicable provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended. We will not accept a letter of state sales tax exemption as proof of nonprofit status.

Note: You must submit this form with each application whether or not you have submitted it with other applications in the current year or in previous years.

Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

If your project budget includes a federally negotiated indirect cost rate, then you must submit a current copy of your Final Federally Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

Note: If you are eligible for and are choosing the option of claiming an indirect cost rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (see 2 C.F.R. part 200, including 2 C.F.R. sections 200.68, 200.414(f), and 200.510(b)(6)), you do not need to provide any documentation. Click here for further information on indirect costs [internal link to Indirect Costs doclet].

D2e. Supporting Documents

You may submit other attachments of your choosing as part of your application package, but these attachments should include only information that will supplement the application. They should help IMLS staff and reviewers envision your project, but they should not be used to answer Narrative questions. You may wish to consider the following:

Letters of commitment from any third party that will receive grant funds or from entities that will contribute substantive funds to the completion of project activities
Letters of commitment from partners or other groups who will work closely with you on your project
Bibliography of references relevant to your proposed project design or evaluation strategy
Letters of support from relevant experts and stakeholders
Position descriptions for project staff (if not included with resumes for key personnel) to be supported by grant or cost share funds
Reports from planning activities
Contractor quotes
Equipment specifications
Products or evaluations from previously completed or ongoing projects of a similar nature
Collections, technology, or other departmental plans for the institution as applicable to the proposed project
Web links to relevant online materials
Needs assessments.

D3. What are the registration requirements for submitting an application?

Before submitting an application, your organization must have a current and active D-U-N-S® number (a unique entity identifier), System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration, and Grants.gov registration. Check your materials and registrations well in advance of the application deadline to ensure that they are accurate, current, and active.

If your D-U-N-S® number and SAM.gov registration are not active and current at the time of submission, your application will be rejected; if they are not active and current at the time an award is made, we may determine that you are not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

D3a. What is a D-U-N-S^® number and how do we get one?

A D-U-N-S® number is a unique nine-digit number assigned to all types of business organizations, including nonprofits and government entities. Click here to learn more about getting a D-U-N-S® number [internal link to D-U-N-S® number doclet].

D3b. What is the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and how do we register?

SAM.gov is the official U.S. Government system that consolidated the capabilities of previous registration systems such as CCR/FedReg, ORCA, and EPLS. There is no fee to register with SAM.gov. Click here to learn more about SAM.gov registration [internal link to SAM.gov doclet].

D3c. What is Grants.gov and how do we register?

Grants.gov is the centralized location for grant seekers to find and apply for Federal funding opportunities.

You must submit your application through Grants.gov.

You must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting your application package. The multi-step registration process generally cannot be completed in a single day. If you are not already registered, you should allow at least two weeks to complete this one-time process. Do not wait until the day of the application deadline to register.

You do not need to complete the registration process to download the application package and begin to prepare your materials. However, you will need your Grants.gov user ID and password that you obtain during the registration process to submit your application when it is complete.

Click here to learn more about Grants.gov registration and tips for using Grants.gov [internal link to registering with Grants.gov doclet].

D4. When and how must we submit our application?

You must submit your application through Grants.gov. Do not submit through email to IMLS.

For the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture Program, Grants.gov will accept applications through 11:59 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time on December 1, 2017.

We strongly recommend that you obtain a D-U-N-S® number, register with SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and complete and submit the application early. We make grants only to eligible applicants that submit complete applications, including attachments, through Grants.gov, on or before the deadline, as indicated by the date stamp generated by Grants.gov.

Contact Grants.gov or call their help line at 1-800-518-4726 for assistance with hardware and software issues, registration issues, and technical problems. The help line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for federal holidays.

D4a. What happens after we submit our application through Grants.gov?

Within two business days of receiving your submission, Grants.gov will generate two emails regarding the progress of your application through the system. The first email will confirm receipt of your application by the Grants.gov system and the second will indicate that the application has either been successfully validated by the system prior to transmission to the grantor agency (IMLS) or has been rejected due to errors. After the official grant program deadline, you will receive a third email confirming that IMLS has retrieved your application. Until that point, you can check the status of your application(s) in Grants.gov by using the “Track My Application” feature. For further details, please consult Grants.gov.

D5. Is there an intergovernmental review?

No. This funding opportunity is not subject to intergovernmental review per Exec. Order No. 12,372.

D6. Are there funding restrictions?

You may only use IMLS funds, and your cost sharing, for allowable costs as found in IMLS and OMB government-wide cost-principle rules. Please consult 2 C.F.R. pt. 200 and 2 C.F.R. pt. 3187 for additional guidance on allowable costs.

The following list includes some examples of generally allowable costs, both for IMLS funds and for cost share (if applicable), under this announcement:

personnel salaries, wages, and fringe benefits
travel expenses for key project staff and consultants
materials, supplies, software, and equipment related directly to project activities
equipment to improve collections storage and exhibit environments
third-party costs
publication design and printing
staff and volunteer training
internships/fellowships
indirect or overhead costs.

You must explain all proposed expenses in your Budget Justification.

The following list includes some examples of unallowable costs, both for IMLS funds and for cost share (if applicable), under this announcement:

general fundraising costs, such as development office staff or other staff time devoted to general fundraising
contributions to endowments
general operating support
acquisition of collections
general advertising or public relations costs designed solely for promotional activities other than those related to the specific project
construction or renovation of facilities (generally, any activity involving the construction trades is not an allowable cost)
social activities, ceremonies, receptions, or entertainment
research projects (see 2 C.F.R. § 200.87)
pre-award costs

Note: If you have questions about whether specific activities are allowable, call IMLS staff for guidance.

D6a. How do we include costs for third parties?

It is your responsibility to determine whether each agreement you make for the disbursement of federal program funds to third parties casts the party receiving the funds in the role of a subrecipient or a contractor. Familiar terms for third parties can include partners, consultants, subgrantees, collaborators, vendors, or service providers. (See 2 C.F.R. § 200.330 (Subrecipient and contractor determinations).) IMLS grant funds may not be provided to any federal agency serving as a third party.

D6b. What are our options for including indirect costs in our budget?

You can choose to:

use a rate not to exceed your current indirect cost rate already negotiated with a federal agency;
use an indirect cost rate proposed to a federal agency for negotiation, but not yet finalized, as long as it is finalized by the time of the award;
use a rate not to exceed 10% of the total modified direct costs if you have never had a federally negotiated indirect cost rate and you are otherwise eligible; or
not include any indirect costs.

Click here for further information on indirect costs [internal link to Indirect Costs doclet].

E. Application Review Information

E1. What are the review criteria?

Reviewers are instructed to evaluate applications according to the review criteria included within the Narrative instructions in Section D.2 of this document. Reviewers consider all Required and Conditionally Required, and Supporting Documents, as listed in Section D.2.

E1a. Is cost sharing considered in the review process?

Cost sharing is an eligibility criterion and is not considered in the review of applications. Cost sharing requirements for this grant program are addressed in Section C.2.

E2. What is the review and selection process?

We use a peer review process to evaluate all eligible and complete applications. Reviewers are professionals in the field with relevant knowledge and expertise in the types of project activities identified in the applications. We instruct reviewers to evaluate applications according to the review criteria. Reviewer conflicts of interest are identified prior to review, and it is intended that reviewers who may have conflicts with particular applications are reassigned to review other applications.

The Director takes into account the input provided by the review process and makes final funding decisions consistent with the purposes of the agency’s mission and programs.

E3. What is the designated integrity and performance system and how does IMLS comply with its requirements?

IMLS, prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $150,000 but periodically adjusted), is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. § 2313).
An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.gov.
IMLS 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 applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 C.F.R. § 200.205 (Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants).

E4. When will we be notified of funding decisions?

We will not release information about the status of an application until the applications have been reviewed and all deliberations are concluded. We expect to notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of the final decisions by July 2018.

F. Award Administration Information

F1. How will we be notified of funding decisions?

We will notify both successful and unsuccessful applicants of funding decisions by email.

For applicants who receive awards, the award packet will be sent to the Project Director, Primary Contact/Grants Administrator, and Authorized Representative/Authorizing Official (as identified on the SF-424S). The award packet will contain the following:

cover letter;
Official Award Notification for Grants and Cooperative Agreements (the authorizing document for the award);
links to the General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards, reporting forms, and the Grantee Communications Kit; and
reviewer comments.

Your period of performance will be included on your Official Award Notification for Grants and Cooperative Agreements. The award period of performance begins on the first day of the month in which project activities start and ends on the last day of the month in which these activities are completed. Funded projects may not begin earlier than August 1, 2018, and not later than October 1, 2018.

For applicants who do not receive awards, the Project Director, Primary Contact/Grants Administrator, and Authorized Representative/Authorizing Official (as identified on the SF-424S) will receive the following:

cover letter; and
reviewer comments.

F2. What are the administrative and national policy requirements?

Organizations that receive IMLS grants or cooperative agreements are subject to the IMLS General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards [external link to General Terms and Conditions] and the IMLS Assurances and Certifications [internal link to Assurances and Certifications doclet]. Organizations that receive IMLS funding must be familiar with these requirements and comply with applicable law.

As an applicant for Federal funds, you must certify that you are responsible for complying with certain nondiscrimination, debarment and suspension, drug-free workplace, and lobbying laws. These are set out in more detail, along with other requirements, in the Assurances and Certifications [internal link to Assurances and Certifications doclet]. By signing the application form, which includes the Assurances and Certifications, you certify that you are in compliance with these requirements and that you will maintain records and submit any reports that are necessary to ensure compliance. Your failure to comply with these statutory and regulatory requirements may result in the suspension or termination of your award and require you to return funds to the government.

F3. What are the reporting requirements?

At a minimum, you will be required to submit a performance report and financial report annually. Reports are due according to the reporting schedule that is part of your Official Award Notification for Grants and Cooperative Agreements. Grantees must submit reports electronically using the IMLS performance and financial report forms. In support of the agency’s commitment to open government, interim and final performance reports may be made accessible on the IMLS website to engage the public.

For details and forms, please see the Manage Your Award: Administration page on the IMLS website [link to Manage Your Award: Administration page on IMLS website].

You must also comply with 2 C.F.R. §§ 180.335 and 180.350 and 2 C.F.R. pt. 3185 with respect to providing information regarding all debarment, suspension, and related offenses information, as applicable.

F3a. What do we need to know if the Federal share of our award is more than $500,000 over the period of performance?

If the Federal share of your award is more than $500,000 over the period of performance, you should refer to the post-award reporting requirements reflected in 2 C.F.R. pt. 200, Appendix XII – Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

G. Contacts

G1. Who should we contact if we have questions?

Click here for IMLS staff contact information for this program [external link to appropriate program landing page]. IMLS staff are available by phone and email to answer programmatic and administrative questions relating to this grant program.

Contact Grants.gov or call their help line at 1-800-518-4726 for assistance with hardware and software issues, registration issues, and technical problems.

G2. How can we participate in a webinar for this IMLS funding opportunity?

Program staff host webinars to introduce potential applicants to funding opportunities. Click here for a schedule of webinars and instructions for accessing them from your computer [external link to webinar page].

H. Other Information

H1. What do we need to know about acknowledging IMLS support?

Grantees must include an acknowledgement of IMLS support in all grant products, publications, websites, and presentations developed with IMLS funding. All work products should reference IMLS and include the associated grant award numbers. Click here for the Grantee Communications Kit, which provides guidance for fulfilling these requirements [external link to grantee communications kit].

H2. What should we do if we are including confidential or proprietary information in our application?

IMLS may share grant applications, work products, and reports with grantees, potential grantees, and the general public to further the mission of the agency and the development of museum, library, and information services. These materials may be disseminated broadly and made available in a variety of ways and formats.

For the above reasons, you should not include in your application any information that you consider to be confidential or proprietary. However, if you do decide to provide information that you consider confidential or proprietary, you must clearly identify it as such. IMLS will handle confidential and proprietary information in accordance with applicable law (e.g., the Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] and the Privacy Act).

H3. What do we need to know about sharing and copyright of IMLS-supported work products and managing digital products?

Read more about sharing and copyright of IMLS-supported work products [internal link to copyright doclet] and management of digital products [internal link to Digital Products doclet] (including research data and other digital content) produced with IMLS support.

H4. What conflict of interest requirements must we follow?

As a non-federal entity, you must follow IMLS conflict of interest policies for federal awards. Click here for more information about IMLS conflict of interest requirements [internal link to conflict of interest requirements doclet].

H5. Where else can we find additional information about IMLS?

You can check the IMLS website [external link to IMLS website] for information on IMLS and IMLS activities.

H6. Is IMLS obligated to make an award as a result of this announcement?

IMLS is not obligated to make any Federal award or commitment as a result of this announcement.

H7. How can I become a peer reviewer?

If you are interested in serving as a peer reviewer, you may enter your contact information, identify your experience and expertise, and upload your resume through our online reviewer application at www.imls.gov/grants/become-reviewer. If you are identified as a potential reviewer, we will notify you by email prior to the next review period to confirm your availability.

H8. How long should it take us to complete an application?

Complete applications include the elements listed in the Table of Application Components in Section D. We estimate the average amount of time needed for one applicant to complete the Narrative portion of this application to be 9 hours. This includes the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and writing and reviewing the answers.

We estimate that it will take you an average of 15 minutes per response for the IMLS Program Information Sheet and three hours per response for the IMLS Budget Form. We estimate that it will take you an average of 60 minutes per response for the Digital Product Form.

Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Institute of Museum and Library Services at 955 L’Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC, 20024-2135, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (3137-0091), Washington, DC, 20503.

H9. IMLS Clearance Number:

IMLS-CLR-D-00__, Expiration date: 7/31/2018

H10. PRA Clearance Number:

OMB Control #: 3137-0095 Expiration date: 7/31/2018

Appendix One - IMLS Assurances and Certifications

As a Federal agency, IMLS is required to obtain from all applicants certifications, including those regarding Nondiscrimination, Debarment and Suspension, Federal Debt Status, and Drug-Free Workplace. Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in grant funds must also certify regarding lobbying activities and may be required to submit a “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form (Standard Form LLL). Some applicants will be required to certify that they will comply with other federal statutes that pertain to their particular situation. These requirements are incorporated in the Assurances Statement below. The authorized representative must review the statement and provide the certification in item 9 on the SF-424S.

Assurances Statement

By signing the application form, the authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, assures and certifies that, should a Federal award be made, the applicant will comply with the statutes outlined below and all related IMLS regulations (for example, see 2 C.F.R. ch. XXXI and 45 C.F.R. ch. XI). These assurances are given in connection with any and all financial assistance from IMLS after the date this form is signed, but may include payments after this date for financial assistance approved prior to this date. These assurances shall obligate the applicant for the period during which the federal financial assistance is extended. The applicant recognizes and agrees that any such assistance will be extended in reliance on the representations and agreements made in these assurances, and that the United States Government has the right to seek judicial enforcement of these assurances, which are binding on the applicant, its successors, transferees, and assignees, and on the authorized representative whose signature appears on the application form.

Certifications Required of All Applicants

Financial, Administrative, and Legal Accountability

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant has legal authority to apply for federal assistance and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including funds sufficient to pay the non-federal share of project costs) to ensure proper planning, management, reporting, recordkeeping, and completion of the project described in this application.

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will cause to be performed the required financial and compliance audits in accordance with applicable law.

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with the provisions of applicable OMB Circulars and regulations.

Nondiscrimination

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with the following nondiscrimination statutes and their implementing regulations:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 2000 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (note: as clarified by Exec. Order No. 13,166, the applicant must take reasonable steps to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) persons have meaningful access to the applicant’s programs (see IMLS guidance at 68 Federal Register 17679, April 10, 2003));
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., including § 794), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability (note: IMLS applies the regulations in 45 C.F.R. pt. 1170 in determining compliance with section 504 as it applies to recipients of federal assistance);
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C. §§ 1681–1683, §§ 1685–1686), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs;
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1975, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq.), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age; and
the requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may apply to the application.

Debarment and Suspension

The applicant shall comply with 2 C.F.R. pt. 3185 and 2 C.F.R. pt. 180, as applicable. The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that neither the applicant nor any of its principals:

are presently excluded or disqualified;
have been convicted within the preceding three years of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(a) or had a civil judgment rendered against it or them for one of those offenses within that time period;
are presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (federal, state, or local) with commission of any of the offenses listed in 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(a); or
have had one or more public transactions (federal, state, or local) terminated within the preceding three years for cause or default.

Where the applicant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, he or she shall attach an explanation to this application.

The applicant, as a primary tier participant, is required to comply with 2 C.F.R. pt. 180 subpart C (Responsibilities of Participants Regarding Transactions Doing Business with Other Persons) as a condition of participation in the award. The applicant is also required to communicate the requirement to comply with 2 C.F.R. pt. 180 subpart C (Responsibilities of Participants Regarding Transactions Doing Business with Other Persons) to persons at the next lower tier with whom the applicant enters into covered transactions.

As noted in the preceding paragraph, applicants who plan to use IMLS awards to fund contracts should be aware that they must comply with the communication and verification requirements set forth in the above Debarment and Suspension provisions.

Federal Debt Status

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that the applicant is not delinquent in the repayment of any federal debt.

Drug-Free Workplace

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies, as a condition of the award, that the applicant will or will continue to provide a drug-free workplace by complying with the requirements in 2 C.F.R. pt. 3186 (Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)). In particular, you as the recipient must comply with drug-free workplace requirements in subpart B (or subpart C, if the recipient is an individual) of 2 C.F.R. pt. 3186, which adopts the Government wide implementation (2 C.F.R. pt. 182) of sec. 5152-5158 of the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 (Pub. L. 100-690, Title V, Subtitle D; 41 U.S.C. §§ 701–707).

This includes, but is not limited to: making a good faith effort, on a continuing basis, to maintain a drug-free workplace; publishing a drug-free workplace statement; establishing a drug-free awareness program for your employees; taking actions concerning employees who are convicted of violating drug statutes in the workplace; and identifying (either at the time of application or upon award, or in documents you keep on file in your offices) all known workplaces under your federal awards.

Trafficking in Persons

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies, as a condition of the award, that the applicant will comply with the trafficking in persons requirements that are set out in the General Terms and Conditions for IMLS Discretionary Awards (2 C.F.R. 175.15 Award Term.).

Certification Regarding Lobbying Activities

(Applies to Applicants Requesting Funds in Excess of $100,000) (31 U.S.C. § 1352)

The authorized representative certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

(a) No federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the authorized representative, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any federal contract, the making of any federal grant, the making of any federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

(b) If any funds other than federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person (other than a regularly employed officer or employee of the applicant, as provided in 31 U.S.C. § 1352) for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the authorized representative shall complete and submit Standard Form LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities,” in accordance with its instructions.

(c) The authorized representative shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance is placed when the transaction is made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into the transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

General Certification

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with all applicable requirements of all other federal laws, executive orders, regulations, and policies governing the program.

Certifications Required for Certain Projects

The following certifications are required if applicable to the project for which an application is being submitted. Applicants should be aware that additional federal certifications, not listed below, might apply to a particular project.

Subawards

Under IMLS regulations at 2 C.F.R. § 3187.14, a recipient may not make a subaward unless expressly authorized by IMLS. A recipient may contract for supplies, equipment, and services, subject to applicable law, including but not limited to applicable Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards set forth in 2 C.F.R. pt. 200.

Native American Human Remains and Associated Funerary Objects

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with the provisions of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (25 U.S.C. § 3001 et seq.), which applies to any organization that controls or possesses Native American human remains and associated funerary objects, and which receives federal funding, even for a purpose unrelated to the Act.

Historic Properties

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will assist the awarding agency in ensuring compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 470f, see 54 U.S.C. § 306108), Exec. Order No. 11,593, and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. § 469 et seq., see 54 U.S.C. § 501502 et seq.).

Environmental Protections

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with environmental standards, including the following:

institution of environmental quality control measures under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq.) and Exec. Order No. 11,514;
notification of violating facilities pursuant to Exec. Order No. 11,738;
protection of wetlands pursuant to Exec. Order No. 11,990, as amended by Exec. Order No. 12,608;
evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with Exec. Order No. 11,988, as amended;
assurance of project consistency with the approved state management program developed under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 1451 et seq.);
conformity of federal actions to State (Clean Air) Implementation Plans under section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.);
protection of underground sources of drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq.); and
protection of endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 1531–1543).

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968, as amended (16 U.S.C. § 1271 et seq.), related to protecting components or potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system.

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the applicant will comply with the flood insurance purchase requirements of the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 4001 et seq.), which requires recipients in a special flood hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and acquisition is $10,000 or more, or as otherwise designated.

Research on Human Subjects

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with 45 C.F.R. pt. 46 regarding the protection of human subjects involved in research, development, and related activities supported by this award of assistance.

Research on Animal Subjects

The authorized representative, on behalf of the applicant, certifies that the project will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966, as amended (7 U.S.C. § 2131 et seq.) pertaining to the care, handling, and treatment of warm-blooded animals held for research, teaching, or other activities supported by this award of assistance.

For further information on these certifications, contact IMLS, 955 L’Enfant Plaza North, SW, Suite 4000, Washington, DC, 20024-2135. Or call 202/653-IMLS (4657).

Appendix Two – Required Federal Systems

Getting a D-U-N-S® Number

All non-federal entities are required to have a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S®) number (a unique entity identifier) in order to apply for, receive, and report on federal awards.

You should verify that your organization has a D-U-N-S® number. You can get one within two business days at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S® number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or by visiting www.dnb.com/get-a-duns-number/html (links to http://www.dnb.com/get-a-duns-number/html).

Registering for SAM.gov

The System for Award Management (SAM) is a federal repository that centralizes information about grant applicants and recipients. You must be registered with SAM.gov before you register with Grants.gov. Click here to find information about registering with SAM.gov [external link to SAM.gov website].

We recommend that you allow at least two weeks to complete your SAM.gov registration. You must renew your registration in SAM.gov at least every 12 months—and sooner, if your information changes. An expired registration will prevent you from submitting applications via Grants.gov and receiving awards or payments. Grant payments will be made to the bank account that is associated with your SAM.gov registration.

Registering for Grants.gov

You must register with Grants.gov before submitting your application to IMLS. Click here to learn more about the multistep registration process [external link to Grants.gov website]. Make sure your D-U-N-S® number and SAM.gov registration are accurate, current, and active. We recommend that you allow at least two weeks to complete your Grants.gov registration.

Working with Grants.gov

Click here to learn more about Grants.gov resources [external link to Grants.gov page], which include checklists, FAQs, and online tutorials to assist you in preparing your organization to submit applications.
Designate more than one Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) when you register in Grants.gov. This will help avoid last-minute crises in the event that your one AOR is unavailable when you are ready to submit your application.
Update the contact information and password in Grants.gov when the AOR at your organization changes.

Grants.gov offers online support regarding Adobe® software [external link to Grants.gov site] and browser [external link to Grants.gov site] compatibility. Contact the Grants.gov help line [external link to Grants.gov site] (1-800-518-4726) for assistance with hardware and software issues, registration issues, and technical problems. The help line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for federal holidays.

Appendix Three - Performance Measure Statements and Information to be Collected and Reported for Learning and Community Projects

On the IMLS Program Information Sheet, you selected an IMLS agency-level goal [external link to IMLS website] of Learning or Community or Content and Collections with which your project best aligns. You also selected at least one performance goal that reflects a measurable change or outcome that you intend for your project to achieve. Below is a list of pre-determined performance measure statements that will help IMLS document the collective achievements of the Learning and Community projects we fund.

IMPORTANT: You will be required to provide specific information directly relating to these performance measure statement(s) in your Final Performance Report. You may design and administer a more elaborate survey than what will be required to gather this specific information. These information-gathering activities must be incorporated into your application narrative, your work plan, your schedule of completion, and your budget, as necessary.

IMLS Agency-Level Goal 1: Learning

Performance Goal

Performance Measure Statement

Information You Will Be Expected to Report

Survey Respondent: Program/Project Participants

Data to be Collected

Train and develop museum and library professionals.

My understanding has increased as a result of this program/training:

Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree, nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

Number of participants
Number of total responses
Number of responses per answer option
Number of non-responses

My interest in this subject has increased as a result of this program/training:

Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree, nor Disagree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

Number of participants
Number of total responses
Number of responses per answer option
Number of non-responses

I am confident I can apply what I learned in this program/training: