ACF-OCS-CSBG-AT-25-07 State Plan Application FY26

Community Services Block Grant

Action Transmittal

AT#: ACF-OCS-CSBG-AT-25-07

DATE: July 21, 2025

TO: CSBG States and Territories

SUBJECT: CSBG State Plan Application FY26

ATTACHMENT(S): CSBG State Plan Submission Groups FY26

Community Services Block Grant Act, Title VI, Subtitle B, of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended; Human Services Amendments of 1994, Pub. L. 103-252; the FY 1996 CSBG Appropriation Legislation, Pub. L. 104-134; CFR Title 45, Part 96; Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-285, Department of Health and Human Services Block Grant Regulations and Current Poverty Income Guidelines.  

PURPOSE: 

To inform states and U.S. territories (hereinafter referred to as CSBG grant recipients) of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) application and plan requirements for federal Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). 

SUBMISSION AND REQUIREMENTS:

Important Updates:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is obligated to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used to advance the best interests of the government. Therefore, all HHS offices and programs are charged, to the extent authorized under law, with taking action to avoid the expenditure of federal funds on programs and services that unlawfully promote or take part in preferences on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected characteristic. 

The Office of Community Services (OCS) strongly encourages all recipients of block grants funded by the CSBG Act who are developing their applications and plans for FY26 to ensure that intended plans, services, strategies, and expenditures funded under CSBG, including those made by subrecipients or contractors, do not support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or any other initiatives that unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected characteristic. Recipients who are currently implementing a biannual, FY25—FY26, plan are strongly encouraged to review their plans, services, strategies, and expenditures funded under CSBG, and, if necessary, submit plan amendments for FY26 to remove any DEI initiatives or any other initiatives that unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or another protected characteristic.

OCS also encourages recipients to take prompt action to conduct reviews for compliance with all applicable laws and Presidential Executive Orders and Memoranda. Recipients should review budgets, budget justification narratives, program goals, and other materials to ensure that federal funds are not used for unlawful or discriminatory initiatives. Expenditures found to be out of compliance with federal law may be subject to enforcement action in accordance with applicable law and the terms and conditions of the grant.

The CSBG grant recipients listed in Group A will submit their FY26 plan by September 1, 2025. The CSBG grant recipients listed in Group B will be required to revise their FY26 plan or notify OCS that no revision is necessary by November 3, 2025.

For Grant recipients in Group B: According to Sec 676(e)(2) (42 U.S.C. § 9908(e)), CSBG grant recipients that revise their plan must make their revised plan available for public inspection within the state to facilitate a review of, and comments on, the revised plan.

Process and Requirements:

According to Section 676(b) of the CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. § 9908(b)), CSBG grant recipients must prepare and submit an application and plan — hereinafter referred to as the CSBG State Plan — to receive CSBG funding. OCS provides funds to CSBG grant recipients based on the determination that the submitted CSBG State Plan meets the requirements of the CSBG Act.

CSBG Grant Recipients in Group A: To apply for FY26 CSBG funding, CSBG grant recipients must submit a completed CSBG State Plan to OCS by September 1, 2025 via the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) On-Line Data Collection (OLDC) available through GrantSolutions.gov .

CSBG Grant Recipients in Group B: CSBG grant recipients that are revising their existing plan must submit the revised CSBG State Plan to OCS by November 3, 2025 via OLDC available through GrantSolutions.gov  or inform OCS that no revision is necessary.

CSBG grant recipients have the option of submitting the CSBG State Plan annually (covering one federal fiscal year) or biannually (covering two federal fiscal years) as per CSBG statute. CSBG administrators are encouraged to carefully consider which option best supports their state’s administrative capacity and anti-poverty strategy.

GrantSolutions will pre-populate applicable responses from the previous CSBG State Plan submission into the FY26 CSBG State Plan.

CSBG STATE PLAN CONTENTS:

A complete CSBG State Plan submission includes:

1. CSBG Eligible Entity List (separate form available in OLDC)
2. Standard Form for Federal Assistance (SF-424M) (CSBG State Plan Cover Page)
3. CSBG State Plan, Sections 1—14, including the designation letter (Section 1, Question 1.3)
4. Certifications, Section 15 (as defined by the CSBG statute)

Once all forms are complete, the authorized official must certify the CSBG State Plan within GrantSolutions.

CSBG Eligible Entity List

CSBG grant recipients are required to revise their CSBG Eligible Entity List if there were changes since the previous CSBG State Plan submission. Changes may include but are not limited to:

1. Designations, de-designations or voluntary relinquishments, or mergers
2. Revisions to the CSBG eligible entity’s name, address, or service area(s)[1]
3. New Executive Director
4. Updated Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in accordance with SAM.gov policies

All revisions to the CSBG Eligible Entity List must be completed prior to initializing the new CSBG State Plan. The CSBG Eligible Entity List is available now for revisions.

CSBG State Plan

As a reminder, CSBG grant recipients must complete the CSBG State Plan based on the federal fiscal year: October 1 to September 30. If a CSBG grant recipient chooses to submit a two-year CSBG State Plan, they must also complete all questions related to the second year to comply with submission requirements. 

CSBG GRANT RECIPIENTS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT 

Based on FY25 CSBG State Plan submissions, CSBG grant recipients fall under one of the following submission groups, which are further defined in the attachment titled “CSBG State Plan Submission Groups FY26.”

• Group A: There are 35 CSBG grant recipients with accepted one- or two-year plans ending September 30, 2025. For the FY26 CSBG State Plan cycle, these 35 grant recipients must complete a full submission as defined above. The CSBG State Plan will be subject to all requirements of the CSBG Act, including the public hearing requirement.
• Group B: There are 18 CSBG grant recipients with accepted two-year plans ending September 30, 2026. CSBG grant recipients within this group must submit any revised CSBG State Plans, if necessary, by November 3, 2025. These revisions are subject to the requirements[2] of submitting a full plan, including allowing for public inspection and the authorized official certifying the report[3]. CSBG grant recipients that are not revising their plans should notify OCS that no changes were necessary by November 3, 2025.

TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND SUPPORT 

To assist with the CSBG State Plan submission, DCA created the CSBG State Plan Toolkit. The CSBG State Plan Toolkit includes the most recent communications, guidance (OLDC step-by-step guides and manuals), the current version of OMB approved forms, fillable forms, webinars, and training demos. 

Additionally, DCA will host the following webinars and office hours to assist in the submission of the FY26 CSBG State Plan.

FY26 State Plan Webinar Series

CSBG State Plan Office Hours (Consultations)

DCA will host CSBG State Plan office hours (consultations). Notification for registration will be shared closer to the dates listed below:

• August 7, 2025, 10:00—11:00 a.m. EST
• August 12, 2025, 3:00—4:00 p.m. EST 

Access to GrantSolutions

DCA encourages all CSBG grant recipients to review their GrantSolutions access and ensure that staff are registered in the correct roles for the CSBG State Plan submission process. Please keep in mind: 

• CSBG grant recipients should have at least one individual assigned as the Grant Administrator. This is usually the CSBG point of contact. Individuals assigned to this role can submit, un-submit, and enter data into all CSBG forms within OLDC.
• CSBG grant recipients should have at least one individual assigned as the Authorized Official. This must be the individual (e.g., director, secretary, or commissioner) designated in the CSBG state designation letter or that person’s official designee. DCA will not accept any CSBG State Plans that do not include a designation letter that clearly specifies the designated lead agency and the title of the official who is authorized to certify the CSBG State Plan. 

Note: The Office of Grants Management (OGM) will issue the Notice of Grant Award electronically to the Authorized Official noted within OLDC on the SF-424M. Therefore, all CSBG grant recipients must ensure that the Authorized Official email contact information is accurate. 

Requesting new accounts: 

To receive proper access to GrantSolutions and the OLDC module, complete the Grant Recipient User Account Request Form  (PDF). The Notice of Grant Award will also be available via the Grants Management Module (GMM) within GrantSolutions. For additional information about using the new GMM, please see this video .

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT: 

For questions regarding the content of the CSBG State Plan, email your assigned CSBG program specialist and copy CSBGStates@acf.hhs.gov. Email questions regarding GrantSolutions to CSBGData@acf.hhs.gov. 

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

/s/
Cheryl Zuni
Interim Director, Division of Community Assistance
Office of Community Services