Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 1
Business Assurances, Certifications, and State Reviews
Critical Grant Proposal Fast Facts (October, 2025)
Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49), local educational agencies (LEAs), as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(30), and consortia of LEAs.
Purpose: The Department of Education (Department) proposes priorities, requirements, and definitions under the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant (SBMH) Program, Assistance Listing Number (ALN) 84.184H. The proposed priorities, requirements, and definitions are designed to provide grants to State educational agencies (SEAS) (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(30)), LEAs (as defined in 20 U.S.C. 7801(49), and consortia of LEAs to increase the number of credentialed school-based mental health services providers, specifically school psychologists, in high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) available to provide mental health services to students.
Application Deadline Date: October 29, 2025; 11:59 PM EST
Project Period: 4 years (Beginning January 1, 2026)
H-Grant:
Estimated Available Funds: $180,000,000
Estimated Range of Awards: $1,250,000-$1,750,000
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,500,000
Estimated Number of Awards: 25-35
X-Grant:
Estimated Available Funds: $90,000,000
Estimated Range of Awards: $750,000-$1,250,000
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $1,000,000
Estimated Number of Awards: 18-24
Competition Manager: Dana Carr, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4B210, Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: (202) 987-0119. Email: oese.school.mental.health@ed.gov.
SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH GRANT APPLICATION ELEMENTS
[H-Grant: From the September 29, 2025 Federal Register Grant Announcement]
[X-Grant: From the September 29, 2025 Federal Register Grant Announcement]
[Information Below Only for H-Grant. Please consult Federal Register Announcement for X-Grant Information]
1. Standard Documents
❑ Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
❑ ED Supplemental Information for SF 424
2. Budget Information
❑ ED Budget Information Non-Construction Programs (ED Form 524)
3. ED Abstract Form
❑ Project Abstract
4. Project Narrative
❑ Application Narrative
5. Narrative Attachment Form
❑ Project Narrative Attachment Form
❑ Budget Narrative
6. Other Attachment Forms
❑ Individual Resumes for Project Director & Key Personnel
7. Assurances and Certifications
❑ Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Standard Form LLL)
❑ Grants.gov Lobbying Form (ED 80-013 Form)
❑ General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) Requirements (ED GEPA 427 Form)
Laying the Groundwork for Your Application
These are the most time-sensitive steps. The tasks below involve external federal systems and state agencies that operate on their own timelines. Completing these registrations and reviews can take several weeks. You must initiate these actions immediately to ensure you are eligible to submit your application. We recommend assigning these tasks to your district’s Business Office or a designated administrative lead today. These actions correspond to Parts 1 and 7 of the formal application.
- Part 1: Standard Documents❑ Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
For additional information on Form SF 424, please visit the following links:
https://grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-family
https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/instructions/SF424_4_0- V4.0-Instructions.pdf
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- ED Supplemental Information for SF 424
These forms require basic identifying information about the applicant and the application. Please provide all requested applicant information (including name, address, e-mail address and Unique Entity ID (UEI)). When applying electronically via Grants.gov, you will need to ensure that the UEI entered on your application is the same as the UEI your organization used when it registered with the System for Award Management.
Applicants are advised to complete the Application for Federal Assistance (Form SF 424) first. Grants.gov will automatically insert the correct Assistance Listing Number and program name automatically wherever needed on other forms.
Please do not attach any narratives, supporting files, or application components to the Standard Form (SF 424). Although this form accepts attachments, the Department of Education will only review materials/files attached in accordance with the instructions provided within this application.
Additional information is provided at the following links https://www2.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/sf424instruct.pdf
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- Application Component—Intergovernmental Review (Executive Order 12372) [This typical Grant requirement has been waived for this competition.]
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) List
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Primary Links for this Section
- Link: SAM.gov
- Link: Grants.gov
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Step-by-Step Directions
1. Confirm Federal System Registrations:
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Action 1: Check SAM.gov Status.
Go to SAM.gov and search for your LEA’s legal entity name. Confirm that your registration is “Active.” You will need the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) listed in your SAM.gov profile for the application.
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Action 2: Register or Renew on SAM.gov if Necessary.
If your status is not active, you must begin this process immediately. You will need your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and legal business name.
Register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The SAM registration process usually takes approximately 7 to 10 business days, but can take longer, depending on the completeness and accuracy of the data provided. SAM.gov will issue a UEI when you complete the registration process. You must continue to maintain an active SAM registration while the Department reviews your application and if you receive a grant award.
You may begin working on your application while completing the registration process, but you cannot submit until all of the Registration Steps are complete.
To register in SAM.gov, click on the “Get Started” link under the “Register Your Entity…” heading in SAM.gov. Grantees, and other entities wanting to do business with the U.S. Department of Education (e.g., entities applying for a grant), that are not already registered in SAM.gov must complete the “Register Entity” registration option and NOT the “Get a Unique Entity ID” option. The “Get a Unique Entity ID” option, which is not a full registration, is only available to entities for reporting purposes.
Failing to complete the “Register Entity” option may result in loss of funding, loss of applicant eligibility, and/or delays in receiving a grant award.
NOTE—Register Early: It will take 24 to 48 hours once your SAM.gov registration is active before the information becomes available in Grants.gov, and you can submit an application through Grants.gov.
For detailed information on the Registration Steps, please go to: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration. Please note that your organization will need to update its SAM.gov registration annually.
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Action 3: Register the Submitting Individual on Grants.gov.
The person who will officially click “submit” on the final grant proposal must be registered on Grants.gov as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). This is a distinct step from the organization’s registration.
Register for an account on Grants.gov, a clearinghouse for grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. To complete your registration, you must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) from the Internal Revenue Service and designate an E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) and Authorized Organization Representative (AOR).
CLICK HERE for Registration Link
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Action 4: Prepare NOW for Your Grant Submission.
After registering, the person who will officially load the Grant Proposal into Grants.gov needs to prepare for this process now.
CLICK HERE to Learn How to Apply for Grants
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2. Complete the Grant Application’s Assurances and Certifications (Part 7):
Be certain to complete all required assurances and certifications that are in the Application Packet. You can find the forms either in the Application Packet and/or on Grants.gov. Make sure that you include all required information in the appropriate place on each form. The assurances and certifications required for this application are:
Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B Form)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL Form)
Grants.GovLobbyingForm– “Certification Regarding Lobbying” (ED 80-013 Form)
General Education Provisions Act (GEPA )Requirements– Section 427
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Action 1: Download the Forms.
Using the link below, download the required certification forms.
CLICK HERE to Access Forms on Grants.gov
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Action 2: Delegate for Review.
Email these forms to your district’s Business Manager and/or Legal Counsel. Ask them to review these legal commitments the district must agree to if awarded the grant. This review can happen in parallel with the rest of your grant development work.
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3. Initiate Intergovernmental Review (This requirement has been waived for this competition):
This program falls under the rubric of Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) and the regulations in 34 CFR Part 79. The process for doing this requires grant applicants to contact State Single Points of Contact for information on how this works.
Further information about the State Single Point of Contact process and a list of names by State can be found at the two links below. PLEASE self-validate the cited Contacts and requirement within your own state.
Intergovernmental Review (SPOC List)
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Action 1: Determine Your State’s Requirement.
This program is subject to Executive Order 12372. Check the official list to see if your state participates in this review process.
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Action 2: Contact Your State Single Point of Contact (SPOC).
If your state is on the list, locate your SPOC from the list provided in the application materials. Contact them immediately by phone or email.
From the Application: “We strongly recommend that you contact your SPOC as soon as possible… Applicants should contact their SPOC as early as possible to find out about and follow the State’s process.”
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Action 3: Follow Your SPOC’s Instructions.
Ask your SPOC for their specific procedures, forms, and deadlines. Add their deadlines to your internal grant calendar.
Links to the Pages of this Website
Activities and Timelines Before the Request for Proposals (RFP) is Published
Activities and Timelines Once the Request for Proposals is Published
Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 1
Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 2
Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 3
Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 4
Writing and Submitting the Grant Proposal—Section 5
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