Current as of: June 1, 2026
October 5, 2021
Revised June 1, 20261
Dear Colleague:
ORR is pleased to announce that selections have been made for entities to serve as Replacement Designees (RD) beginning in FY 2022 through FY 2026.2
Authority
Pursuant to 45 C.F.R. § 400.301, when a state government partially or fully withdraws from the administration of the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP), ORR can designate one or more RDs to administer the provision of assistance and services in that state.
Background
Since 2008, ORR has used its authority to designate one or more RDs for every state government that has partially or fully withdrawn from the administration of the RRP. As noted in ORR Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) 21-07, while ORR may designate an RD whenever necessary, ORR intends to compete the role of RD in each state for which a RD is designated, every five years, in order to ensure a fair and transparent process. ORR announced the first competition in 2021, and the following entities have been selected to administer all or part of the RRP beginning in FY 2022:
Selected RDs will administer the following ORR programs.3
Please reach out to Carl Rubenstein, Division Director of Refugee Assistance at Carl.Rubenstein@acf.hhs.gov, with any questions related to this DCL.
Sincerely,
Cindy Huang
Director
Office of Refugee Resettlement
1 June 1, 2026: Revisions are footnoted.
2 The Replacement Designee (RD) period of performance is extended from September 30, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
3 Per Policy Letter 25-04, ORR will no longer provide nonprofit agency replacement designees with Refugee Support Services (RSS) formula funding beginning in FY2026.