Centers for Independent Living Competition - Guam

The Centers for Independent Living Competition in Guam is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration on Disabilities and the Office of Independent Living Programs. This program is rooted in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and is designed to fund a disability led, community based center that promotes independent living for individuals with significant disabilities. The funder’s mission emphasizes maximizing independence, well being, and community participation for people with disabilities through coordinated services and support systems. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish or support a Center for Independent Living that provides core services such as information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and advocacy. Additional services may include assistance with transitioning from institutional settings to community living, preventing institutionalization, and supporting youth transitioning into postsecondary life. The program prioritizes consumer control, meaning that individuals with disabilities must play a leading role in governance, staffing, and service delivery, ensuring that services are responsive and aligned with lived experiences. Funding for this opportunity is structured as a grant with an expected total program funding of 247308 dollars over a two year performance period. The award is distributed in two annual budget periods of 123654 dollars each, with only one award anticipated. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, and allowable uses of funds must directly support independent living services and program operations. Restrictions include prohibitions on construction, major rehabilitation, and basic research activities, as well as limitations on certain policy related expenditures and equipment. Eligibility is limited to consumer controlled, community based, cross disability, nonresidential private nonprofit organizations, including tribal and faith based entities. Applicants must demonstrate that the majority of staff and board members are individuals with significant disabilities and that the proposed center aligns with the territory’s Plan for Independent Living. In limited cases, a designated state entity may apply if nonprofit eligibility criteria are not met. Applicants must also serve unserved or underserved areas and comply with all statutory standards and assurances outlined in the Rehabilitation Act. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as a project narrative, budget narrative, and supporting documentation including proof of nonprofit status and organizational resumes. The project narrative is limited to twenty pages and must address program relevance, approach, impact, organizational capacity, and evaluation strategies. Applications are evaluated through a merit review process that scores alignment with program priorities, clarity of objectives, implementation strategy, and organizational capability. The application deadline is August 3, 2026 at 1159 pm Eastern Time, with awards expected by September 30, 2026, which also marks the anticipated project start date. The period of performance extends for two years through September 29, 2028. Applicants are required to maintain active registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. Contact information is provided for programmatic and financial inquiries, including a named program officer and support channels for technical assistance. This funding opportunity does not explicitly indicate recurring cycles but reflects a structured federal competition process tied to appropriations and strategic priorities. Successful applicants will be required to comply with federal grant regulations, reporting requirements, and oversight provisions to ensure program integrity and alignment with the goals of advancing independence and community living for people with disabilities.

Ensure strong alignment with ACL priorities clearly defined objectives and demonstrate disability led governance and measurable outcomes