Request for Application (RFA) Release Date: Monday, March 31, 2025 at Noon

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is the District of Columbia agency responsible for the supervision of adult education and adult literacy. OSSE will award on a competitive basis both federal and local funding to eligible providers that have demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education activities.

The federal funds are authorized by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 and Section 60305 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021), also commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The local funds are authorized under the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000, effective October 21, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-176; D.C. Official Code § 38-2602(b)), as amended and the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Support Act of 2017, sec. 4052.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria: An eligible provider is an organization that has demonstrated effectiveness in providing adult education activities to eligible individuals and may include: 1) a local educational agency; 2) a community-based organization; 3) a faith-based organization; 4) a volunteer literacy organization; 5) an institution of higher education; 6) a library; 7) a public housing authority; 8) a public or private nonprofit organization that is not described above and has the ability to provide adult education and literacy activities to eligible individuals; 9) any other organization or entity; 10) a consortium, of agencies, organizations, institutions, libraries or authorities described above; and 11) a partnership between an employer and an entity described above.

Applications will be scored on the following categories (1) project information, which includes sub-categories including, but not limited to organization mission and goals and statement of need; (2) program design; (3) other program elements, such as instructional program or student assessment; and (4) fiscal management.

Grant funds will be awarded to eligible providers with demonstrated effectiveness to offer Integrated Education and Training (IE&T) programs, inclusive of 1) adult education and literacy activities, 2) workforce preparation activities, 3) workforce training, 4) digital literacy and digital skills training, 5) supportive services, and 6) transition services to District residents with basic skills deficiencies, limited English proficiency and barriers to employment to pursue their desired career paths. Grant funds to support the provision of these services are subject to OSSE’s receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia City Council and U.S. Department of Commerce.

Length of the Award: Funding will be used to serve eligible District residents from July 1, 2025 through Sept. 30, 2026. Based on continued funding availability, sub-grantee performance, and student progress and outcomes during and at the end of this grant period, providers with evidence of demonstrated effectiveness may be eligible to receive continuation funding, if available, for up to three additional years.

Available Funding for Award: OSSE expects to award multiyear funding to up to ten eligible providers of demonstrated effectiveness to serve a total of 1,000+ District residents collectively each year. All grant recipients will receive the same level of funding to serve 100+ adult learners. The cost per customer amount will range from $5,000 for a total award of $500,000 to $6,800 for a total award of $680,000 each year. Awards are subject to OSSE’s receipt of funding from the U.S. Department of Education, District of Columbia City Council and U.S. Department of Commerce.

Application Process: The Request for Applications (RFA) and paper-based application will be posted on the District of Columbia Office of Partnerships and Grant Services website here and on the AFE web-page here on Monday, March 31, 2025. Applicants will be able to submit applications through OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) at grants.osse.dc.gov starting Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

A pre-application conference will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 1-2:30 p.m. and Monday, May 5, 2025 10-11:30 a.m. The purpose of the pre-application conference is to answer questions to clarify the RFA requirements and provide supplemental information to assist potential eligible applicants in submitting responses to the RFA.

While participation in the conference is “optional,” interested parties are encouraged to participate and register for one of the conferences by clicking on the applicable link.

• Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 1-2:30 p.m. REGISTER
• Monday, May 5, 2025 from 10-11:30 a.m. REGISTER

Eligible providers may also wish to submit a Notice of Intent to Apply. While the submission of this notice is optional, it is helpful for the review process in determining the resources needed to efficiently conduct the application review process. Interested individuals should complete the form online by Friday, May 9, 2025 here.

Please note that applicants must apply for the OSSE Adult and Family Education Consolidated Competitive Grant in OSSE’s Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by the due date of Wednesday, May 21, 2025 by 3 p.m. regardless of whether an Optional Notice of Intent to Apply was submitted.

An external review panel will be convened to review, score, and rank each application for a competitive grant. The review panel will be composed of external neutral, qualified, professional individuals selected for their expertise, knowledge or related experiences. Each application will be scored against a rubric and applications will have multiple reviewers to ensure accurate scoring. Upon completion of its review, the panel shall make recommendations for awards based on the scoring rubric(s). The State Superintendent or her designee will make all final award decisions.

Applications must be submitted in EGMS by Wednesday, May 21, 2025 by 3 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted. Awards will be announced by Monday, June 30, 2025.

For additional information, please email [email protected] or contact the staff below in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Adult and Family Education program.