Competitive Personal Responsibility Education Program

The Competitive Personal Responsibility Education Program is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Division of Positive Youth Development. The program is authorized under section 513 of the Social Security Act, with Competitive PREP specifically authorized at 42 U.S.C. 713(a)(4). The program supports projects in states and territories that did not accept Fiscal Year 2026 State PREP allotments. Its central goal is to prevent adolescent pregnancy, reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, and promote the successful transition of youth to adulthood. Projects serve youth ages 10 through 19 and may serve pregnant and parenting youth under age 21, with particular attention to populations at elevated risk or with special circumstances. Funded projects must place substantial emphasis on both abstinence and contraception and must incorporate at least three of six adulthood preparation subjects: healthy relationships including marriage and family interactions, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. Applicants must use evidence-based effective programs or substantially incorporate elements of programs supported by rigorous scientific research, implement program models with fidelity, and provide medically accurate, complete, culturally appropriate, and age-appropriate information. Programs are also expected to provide age-appropriate body literacy education and incorporate sexual risk avoidance education. Projects must address online safety, harms of social media, parental transparency and parental rights, and age-banded review requirements. Programs should incorporate positive youth development and trauma-informed approaches, provide youth-friendly referrals and connections to appropriate services, and coordinate with community organizations serving the selected populations. The expected total program funding is $7,398,951, with 11 awards anticipated. Awards range from $250,000 to $750,000. This is full funding for a three-year project period with one budget period, subject to the availability of federal funds. Available Fiscal Year 2026 funding is identified for California, Florida, American Samoa, and the Marshall Islands. There is no required cost sharing or matching contribution. Voluntary cost sharing is not considered during merit review, although a voluntary commitment included in an awarded application becomes part of the award requirements. Prohibited costs include real property purchases, major renovation, construction, pre-award costs, and payments for health care or related services for youth by recipients or subcontractors. A local evaluation is optional, but no more than 20 percent of the budget may be allocated to a local evaluation. Recipients must maintain a substantive role when using subawards, and applicable salary costs are subject to the Executive Level II salary limitation. Eligibility is described as unrestricted, subject to important exclusions and locality requirements. Individuals including sole proprietorships, federal entities, and foreign entities are not eligible. Faith-based and community organizations meeting the requirements may apply. Eligible applicants are limited to local organizations and entities, including faith-based organizations or consortia, that have the capacity to develop and implement Competitive PREP projects in California, Florida, American Samoa, or the Marshall Islands. An applicant located in or proposing to manage a project from an ineligible state or territory cannot propose to serve an eligible jurisdiction. For consortia, entities applying to serve an eligible state must be located in that eligible state. Subrecipients must also satisfy the NOFO eligibility requirements and must have a Unique Entity Identifier through SAM.gov. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov unless ACF approves an exemption for paper submission. Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations and have a Unique Entity Identifier. The application consists of two files plus required standard forms. File one contains the table of contents, one-page project summary, project narrative, and line-item budget and budget narrative. File two contains attachments such as the ACF priorities alignment attestation, applicable indirect cost agreement, legal status documentation, organizational capacity materials, third-party agreements, and letters of support. Required standard forms include the Project Abstract Summary, SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, Key Contacts, Grants.gov Lobbying form, applicable SF-LLL, and Project/Performance Site Location forms. Files one and two together are limited to 115 pages. The application is due August 31, 2026. Electronic submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, while applicants with an approved paper-submission exemption must submit by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Applications first undergo a responsiveness review, after which qualifying applications proceed to merit review. The merit review provides 110 total points: 20 for purpose and need, 47 for response, 6 for impact, 22 for resources and capabilities, 5 for the line-item budget and budget narrative, and 10 for alignment with ACF vision, mission, values, priorities, and guiding principles. Selection also considers factors including emerging, unserved, or underserved populations, geographic distribution, past performance, and applicable agency priorities. Successful applicants receive an official Notice of Award, and projects must be fully functioning and serving youth within 90 days after that notice. Recipients must collect and report required PREP performance measures, submit performance and financial reports semiannually, participate in required training and technical assistance, and participate in a national evaluation if selected. Program questions may be directed to Latanya Bispham-Robinson at fysb.nofo.cprep@acf.hhs.gov or 202-401-5401. Grants management questions may be directed to David Lee at David.Lee@acf.hhs.gov or 202-401-5461.

Prioritize the 47-point Response section and explicitly answer each scored element. Define and support the geographic need with relevant data, including teen birth and STI data. Quantify the proposed population and justify participant estimates. Clearly state the percentage of program focus devoted to abstinence and contraception. Identify at least three adulthood preparation subjects and explain their integration. Document evidence supporting the selected curriculum and describe fidelity monitoring and any adaptations. Address age appropriateness by each age band served, including parental notice and applicable opt-in or opt-out procedures. State whether condom demonstrations and a local evaluation are proposed rather than leaving either issue implicit. Build a detailed timeline and logic model linking activities, outputs, and outcomes. Demonstrate capacity for full implementation within 90 days of award. Align the budget directly with proposed activities and keep any optional local evaluation at or below 20% of the budget. Explicitly connect program design, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement to the relevant ACF priority of promoting work and self-sufficiency.