DHS/FCS

The Illinois Youth Investment Program (IYIP) was established to provide Illinois’ at-risk youth ages 16-24, with the opportunity to participate in the employment recovery of the State following the COVID-19 pandemic. This IYIP-NP (named program) NOFO (CSFA# 444-80-3473) is being offered to build upon the successes of the program, offering short-term, long-term and career development employment programming in the following counties: •Champaign County •Cook County •Lake County •Peoria County •Sangamon County •St Clair County •Winnebago County Applications will only be considered for a single eligible County. If an applicant wishes to apply to serve multiple eligible Counties, a separate complete application MUST be submitted for each separate eligible County. Multiple communities within the same eligible county CAN be combined into a single application. Multiple grant awards will NOT be issued to the same Applicant Organization to serve the same eligible County under this NOFO. Subrecipients are allowed under this program / NOFO. This includes a Community Intermediary approach to offering services.

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Short-term programming is designed to target those youth who are interested in short-term employment with a goal of developing workplace skills and gaining employment experience while exploring potential Career Pathways. Community-based providers will partner with local employers to provide employment for youth workers. Youth targeted in this category will be placed in age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, and experience-appropriate opportunity. This may be accomplished by placing and supporting youth in unsubsidized employment, or through an agreement with the employer to fully or partially subsidize the youth’s wages for a period not to exceed 3 months (13 weeks). Long-term and career development programming is designed to target youth who are ready to focus on long-term employment. These youth may have an identified career path or may still be exploring employment interests. Community-based providers will develop partnerships with established employers and/or Industry Association training programs to identify, refer and support youth participants. Upon enrollment into the program, youth will receive services to ensure they are prepared for employment, including assessments, case plans, employment readiness and other support services. For long-term and career development programming, youth will be placed within three months of enrollment, in age-appropriate, ability-appropriate, and experience-appropriate long-term employment, career development training program or placed as an AmeriCorps volunteer service member in a youth’s identified area of interest. Once completed, career development training programs (including apprenticeships or credentialing programs) will provide the youth with immediate full-time job placement opportunities.

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New awards issued will begin implementation on April 1, 2025. The initial award period will run from 4/1/25 through 3/31/26 (issued under 2 separate fiscal year grant agreements). Awardees will be eligible to receive one grant term renewal for the period 4/1/2026 through 3/31/2027 (issued under 2 separate fiscal year agreements). The initial term will allow for up to a 2-month start-up period. Program must be implemented as described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

Education Organizations; Government Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations;

Eligible Applicants This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements and are subject to limitations described below: a Eligible applicants are limited to those public and private nonprofit community-based organizations subject to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the tax code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)). b In addition to the above non-profit community-based organizations, eligible applicants are inclusive of units of local government, public schools, districts, etc. that provide services in the eligible county for which the applicant organization intends to serve. c The applicant organization must provide documentation that verifies/demonstrates that the applicant organization has a minimum of 2 years’ experience providing services to at-risk youth and/or young adults in the eligible service area for which the applicant organization is proposing to provide services. d The application is proposing to provide youth employment services consistent with the requirements of this NOFO. e The application proposes to provide services in an eligible county as identified in Section A3 Eligible Service Area.

Low income and/or at-risk in-school and out-of-school youth ages 16-24 who can document Illinois residency and are able to provide an I9 prior to employment. A youth must demonstrate one or more risk factors.

Project Grants

Human Services

Applicant organization must be applying to provide services in an eligible county. FY25 and FY26 eligible counties include Champaign County, Cook County, Lake County, Peoria County, Sangamon County, Winnebago County and St. Clair County.

Applicant must be prequalified and registered in the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal

Applicant must submit an application as described by the NOFO which must include, at a minimum, a Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance, a program narrative and a budget. Additional information is provided in the NOFO.

Applications that fail to meet the criteria described in Section C “Eligibility Information” of the NOFO will not be scored and/or considered for funding. All applicants / applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification. Scoring will be on a 100-point scale. Additional information is provided in the NOFO. The numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. The Department reserves the right to consider other factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, demonstrated community presence, and agency past performance as a state grantee, etc. and other factors identified under NOFO Section A: Program Description; 2. Funding Priorities.

a Merit-Based Review i The Merit Based Review will be conducted by a review team comprised of three or more internal and/or external reviewers. Internal reviewers are individuals employed by the Department, contractual staff or individuals working as interns from an Illinois academic institution. External reviewers are those individuals not employed by the Department, who have volunteered to review applications, have subject matter expertise and/or grant reviewing experience and have been screened for any potential conflict of interest with their assigned applications. ii The review teams will be provided with a Merit Based Review Committee Member Orientation Session. iii After the orientation session, applications will be reviewed and scored individually. The Review Team scores will be compiled and averaged on a Merit Based Review Summary Score Sheet. iv The Bureau Chief or designee will conduct a quality assurance review which must include the following: (a) Initial review of the summary score sheet to identify scoring discrepancies, (b) Assess whether reviewers properly applied Merit Based Review steps as instructed, (c) Identify any obvious infractions of committee members’ independence in the review process. (d) Assess whether reviewers properly completed all sections of the MBR Scoring Sheet. Reviewer score sheets may be returned to the reviewer to improve legibility and completeness of comments, (e) Determine whether all facets of the review and scoring process were adhered to and consistently applied by reviewers. v After individual scores have been completed, a post-merit-based review committee meeting will be held. The review committee meeting is required for all competitive merit-based reviews and will be facilitated by the Bureau Chief or designee. The following apply: (a) Each review team assigned application will be discussed by team members, including application highlights, concerns, application mandates / requirements etc. (b) Scoring disparities will be identified and discussed. For each application, if a significant disparity exists between reviewer scores (based on a set amount/formula), review team members will collectively examine the application and discuss comments to ensure team members have not missed items within the application that other team members may have identified including application mandates / requirements etc. Application highlights and concerns will also be discussed. (c) Individual scores must be revised if a reviewer determines that they have missed information or made errors in scoring the application. (d) Scoring revisions resulting from discussions must be documented on the respective scoring sheet with written commentary to support the revision. vi Once the post merit-based review meeting has been held and individual scores have been finalized and resubmitted as necessary, the Review Team member scores will be updated, compiled and averaged on the Merit Based Review Summary Score Sheet. vii At any time during the merit-based review or post-review process: (a) If it is determined that there was the possibility of impropriety on the part of any reviewer, upon written request and with the approval of the Associate Director, the Department reserves the right to remove from consideration the reviewer scores and comments from consideration. This action must be documented in writing and must include the reason for removal, (b) If the removal of a reviewer scores and comments results in fewer than 3 reviewers scoring the application, the Department will assign an alternate reviewer to the application. This reviewer will be afforded all the same guidance, instruction and time to complete the review task. Once completed, the process will resume as required. viii After the updated Review Scores have been compiled and averaged, The Bureau Chief will present the scores, summary comments and reviewer recommendations to the Associate Director for the Office of Community & Positive Youth Development (OCPYD). The Bureau Chief will work with the Associate Director (OCPYD) to prepare funding recommendations for the Director of the Division of Family and Community Services. These recommendations may include consideration of other factors such as geographical distribution, demonstrated need, service capacity, cost effectiveness, demonstrated local community presence, agency past performance as a state grantee etc., and other items identified under Section A: Program Description; 2. Funding Priorities. ix The recommendations will be presented by the OCPYD Associate Director to the Director of the Division of Family and Community Services, or designee for consideration and final award approval. b Criteria and Weighting of Each Criteria The application criteria to be reviewed and scored are found in this announcement in Section D. Application and Submission Information, 3. Content and Form of Application Submission; Proposal Narrative Content. i Scoring will be on a 100-point scale. Application Narrative (inclusive of associated attachments) will be evaluated on the following criteria as identified in the NOFO. ii Cost Sharing/Matching: This award is not subject to Cost Sharing/Matching. Selection Process iii As described in the Criteria section above, scoring will be done by committee on a 100-point scale. The numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. The Department reserves the right to consider other factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, demonstrated community presence, and agency past performance as a state grantee, etc. and other factors identified under Section A: Program Description; 2. Funding Priorities. iv While the score/recommendation of the review panel will be a key factor in the funding decision, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the findings of the review panel to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information. v In the event of a tie, the Department may choose to elect one of the following options: (a) Apply one or more of the additional factors for consideration described above to prioritize the applications; or (b) Partially fund each of the tied applications (c) Not fund any of the tied applications or (d) Assign a new 3-person review team to review and score both applications to break the tie. vi The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc.

Applications must be sent electronically to DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov and received no later than the due date listed in the NOFO.

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3 Merit-Based Review Appeal Process a Competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal and shall be reviewed by IDHS’ Appeal Review Officer (ARO). b Appeals submission IDHS contact information: Name of Agency contact for appeals: Karrie Rueter Email of Agency contact for appeals: DHS.PositiveYouthDevelopment@illinois.gov Email Subject Line: “agency name IYIP 444-80-34737 @Appeal Karrie” c Submission of Appeal. i An appeal must be submitted in writing to appeals submission IDHS contact listed above, who will send to the IDHS Appeal Review Officer (ARO) for consideration. ii An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published. iii The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following: (a) Name and address of the appealing party; (b) Identification of the grant; and (c) Statement of reasons for the appeal. (d) Supporting documentation, if applicable d Response to Appeal. i IDHS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received. ii IDHS will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required. iii The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by IDHS within the time period set in the request. e Resolution i The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Agency Head or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information. ii In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the State Agency. iii The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination. iv The determination shall include, but not be limited to: (a) Review of the appeal; (b) Appeal determination; and (c) Rationale for the determination.

Successful applicants may be eligible to receive a single one-year grant renewal for a total of 12-month project period. Renewals are at the discretion of IDHS and are based on performance and sufficient appropriation.

Funding for this award will come from Other State Funds and does not have a match requirement.

All applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards. Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. a Allowable costs: Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity(ies) contained in the Scope of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200. Funding allocated under these grants is intended to provide direct services to youth. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation. b Unallowable costs: Please refer to 2 CFR 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E – Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from DHS: i Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.438) ii Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439) iii Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439) iv Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee’s employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor’s Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200.445). v Deposits for items, services, or space. vi Out-of-State travel funded by the grant will not be allowed unless specifically tied to employer directed mandatory job training/education required for the specific job placement for which the youth is employed under the grant. Each instance must be pre-approved in writing by IDHS prior to travel to ensure the identified employer job training exception applies. The following guidelines apply to specific unallowable costs: Youth Wages/Stipends Wage subsidies, and stipends may not be paid by the grant in excess of the maximum allowed $17.00 per hour. Youth may not receive subsidized wages/stipends for participation in non-workplace activities such as employment readiness activities, assessments, case management activities, non-workplace training and skill development activities unless specifically authorized above in Section C.8.a. Allowable Costs above or in the descriptions detailed in Section A. Program Description above, or special written permission is sought and granted. No youth, under any circumstance, may receive a combined wage subsidy and/or stipend, for a period in excess of 6 months (26 weeks). Incentives may not be paid to a youth without a policy in place that governs the terms and conditions associated with the provision of the incentives. Refer to the Wages, Stipends, and Incentives appendix. 20. IYIP subsidized wages/stipends paid for an AmeriCorps member placement by the youth employment grantee/sub-grantee will be unallowed. c Limitation of Use Limitation of Use of Award funds for Employee Compensation: With respect to any award over $250,000, recipients may not use federal funds to pay total cash compensation to any employee that exceeds 110% of the maximum annual salary payable to a member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service (SES) at an agency with a Certified SES Performance Appraisal System for that year. A salary table is available at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2021/ES.pdf d Indirect Cost Requirements and Restrictions In order to charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate. Every organization that receives a state award must make an indirect cost rate proposal or election in the Crowe Activity Review System (CARS), including organizations that are choosing not to claim payment for indirect costs. CARS URL: https://solutions.crowehorwath.com/CARS/StateofIllinoisGOMB/Login.aspx i Indirect Cost Rate Election: (a) Federally Negotiated Rate. Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA. (Refer to Section D. Application and Submission Information, 4. Other Submission Requirements for a list of required attachments) (b) State Negotiated Rate. The organization must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois by completing an indirect cost rate proposal in the CARS system if they do not have Federally Negotiated Rate or elect to use the De Minimis Rate. (c) De Minimis Rate. An organization that has never received a Federal or State Negotiated Rate may elect a de Minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct cost (MTDC). Once established, the de Minimis rate may be used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually in order to accept the de Minimis rate. If programs elect to use the De Minimis rate, it is critical that program budgets accurately calculate the MTDC base. Please see the regulation below and note the exclusions to MTDC. 2 CFR § 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC). MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs. (d) "No Rate": Grantees have discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election of "No Indirect Costs" into CARS. ii Crowe Activity Review System (CARS). CARS will allow your organization to document your already established federally approved indirect cost rate, complete an indirect cost rate proposal (see State Negotiated Rate above), elect to charge the De Minimis rate (10%) of modified total direct costs (MTDC), or select that no reimbursement of indirect costs will be requested. Submission requirements are located on page 2 of the Uniform Budget Template as well as 2 CFR 200 Appendices IV, V & VII. Organizations which have not previously made an indirect cost rate election must submit an election (and indirect cost rate proposal, if necessary) immediately and no later than 3 months after receiving an award notification or invitation to the CARS system. Organizations that have previously established an indirect cost rate election must submit a new indirect cost rate election immediately and no later than 6 months after the close of their organization’s fiscal year. Every organization must make an indirect cost rate election in CARS even if the organization is choosing De Minimis Rate or “no rate”. Organizations that do not make an election or submission inside the CARS system within the required timeframes will not be allowed to claim indirect cost reimbursement. For more information, see https://www.illinois.gov/sites/GATA/Pages/default.aspx e Administrative Costs It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Program budgets and narratives will detail how all proposed expenditures are directly necessary for program implementation and will distinguish between Indirect/Direct Administrative and Direct Program expenses. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. At no time may the approved NICRA be exceeded under this agreement. Documentation will be required to verify the approved NICRA. f Simplified Acquisition Threshold Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently $250,000 (Refer to 2CFR200 Section 200.88). Therefore, the grantee must be aware of the following regarding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold as it will be applicable to any qualifying sub award: i That the grantee agency, prior to making a sub-award with a total amount of funds greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313); ii That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that the awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM; iii That the awarding agency 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 awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.205 awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

Reporting Upon execution of the grant agreement, reporting shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Uniform Grant Agreement and related Exhibits which includes, but is not limited to the following: i Periodic Financial Report (PFR) (a) The Provider will submit monthly expenditure documentation and certification forms (EDCFs), quarterly and final Periodic Financial Reports (PFRs) in the format prescribed by the Department. (b) These monthly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of each month for the preceding month by email. (c) The quarterly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter; Quarter 1 (April 1 – June 30) is due July 15th; Quarter 2 (July 1-September 30th) is due - October 15th, Quarter 3 (October 1- December 31st) is due – January 15th, and Quarter 4 (January 1st -March 31st) is due - April 15th). (d) The final (cumulative fiscal year) Periodic Financial report is due April 15th. ii Periodic Performance Report (PPR) (a) The provider will provide monthly status reports to the Department in the format prescribed by the Department. (b) The Provider will submit quarterly and final Periodic Performance Reports (PPRs) in the format prescribed by the Department. (c) The quarterly reports must be submitted no later than the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter; Quarter 1 (April 1 – June 30) is due July 15th; Quarter 2 (July 1-September 30th) is due - October 15th, Quarter 3 (October 1- December 31st) is due – January 15th, and Quarter 4 (January 1st -March 31st) is due - April 15th). (d) The final (cumulative fiscal year) Periodic Financial report is due April 15th. iii Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: Additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by IDHS and in a format prescribed by IDHS. At a minimum: (a) Data will be collected, tracked and reported for all youth referred/served in the program. For a listing of required data elements refer to the Program Data Collection and Reporting appendix. (b) All youth must register in Illinois workNet or other data system as directed by IDHS. (c) Assessments and service provision for all youth served must be documented in Illinois workNet unless otherwise directed by IDHS. (d) Additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in a format prescribed by the Department. Non-compliance with any of the above reporting requirements, including timeliness of reports may lead to being placed on the Illinois Stop Payment List.

Audit requirements set forth in the grant agreement.

Recordkeeping Requirements. In accordance with the Community Services Agreement, each provider shall maintain full and complete records of program operations in compliance with state records retention requirements. Records are defined as those documents that capture program activity, participant information and outcomes, and fiscal data. Providers shall comply with the Local Records Act, which regulates the destruction and preservation of public records within the State of Illinois. Presuming funding is provided for the full award + renewal period, the Provider will be required to maintain until March 31, 2032, adequate books, all financial records and supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to this Award. If any litigation, claim, or audit is started before the expiration of the retention period, the records must be retained until all litigation, claims or audit exceptions involving the records have been resolved and final action taken. The Provider agrees to provide or make available all records related to this grant upon request. Each provider shall maintain full and complete records of program operations in compliance with state records retention requirements. Records are defined as those documents that capture program activity, participant information and outcomes, and fiscal data. Providers shall comply with the Local Records Act, which regulates the destruction and preservation of public records within the State of Illinois. IDHS may require longer retention of records and/or submission of such records to the Department if the records cover a time period still open to audit.

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This is a new program; range and average to be determined.

This is a new program

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823 E. Monroe St. Springfield, IL PH: 217.557.0193

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10/31/2024

FY 2025 : $30,000,000