Opportunity Information: Apply for ETA UI 2026 01
Apply for ETA UI 2026 01
- The Employment and Training Administration in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 17.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-15.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-09-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $9,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations opportunity is a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) discretionary funding action to continue running the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity Center of Excellence (often referred to as the Integrity Center). ETA plans to make a single cooperative agreement award, with an anticipated ceiling of $9,000,000, to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies Center for Employment Security Education and Research (NASWA/CESER). The grant is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means ETA expects to have ongoing involvement in guiding priorities and deliverables rather than issuing a hands-off grant.
Funding for this work is tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-75). Within the Department of Labor appropriation for State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations, Congress explicitly provided $9,000,000 for continued support of the UI Integrity Center of Excellence. The notice reflects that this is not a broad competition; it is described as a sole source award to NASWA/CESER, which has operated the Integrity Center since Fiscal Year 2017.
NASWA/CESER is described as a 501(c)(3) organization established in August 1994 as NASWA's education and research arm. NASWA itself represents state administrators of the publicly funded workforce system, and CESER is positioned as a specialized provider of IT, education, and research support focused on UI and workforce development. In practical terms, ETA is relying on an entity that already has longstanding relationships with state UI agencies and experience delivering multistate technical assistance and shared tools.
The core purpose of the Integrity Center is to strengthen UI program integrity nationwide. The work emphasized in the opportunity includes training and technical assistance to state workforce agencies to reduce improper payments, expand fraud prevention capabilities, and improve detection and response practices. In addition to direct assistance, the Integrity Center is expected to develop, curate, and disseminate program integrity resources that states can use, such as guidance, training materials, promising practices, and operational tools.
Another central theme is innovation and scalability. The Integrity Center is expected to promote and support new tools and products that can be transferred and scaled across states, rather than one-off solutions that only help a single jurisdiction. This focus reflects the reality that fraud patterns often cross state lines, and that states benefit from common approaches, shared analytics methods, interoperable solutions, and repeatable playbooks for prevention and detection.
A final major function described is rapid information sharing. The Integrity Center is tasked with enabling quick alerts to states about emerging improper payment tactics and fraud schemes as they are identified. That includes spotting patterns, packaging actionable intelligence for state UI programs, and helping states adapt controls and countermeasures quickly so that vulnerabilities are not exploited repeatedly across multiple states.
Key administrative details from the notice include the opportunity title "UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations," funding opportunity number ETA UI 2026 01, CFDA number 17.225, activity category Employment, Labor and Training, and an original closing date of 2026-09-25. Eligible applicants are listed as "Others," but the substance of the announcement makes clear the intent to award to NASWA/CESER as the sole source recipient, with one expected award total.
FAQs: UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations (ETA UI 2026 01)
What is the "UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations" opportunity?
It is a U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) discretionary funding action to continue operating the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Integrity Center of Excellence (the Integrity Center). The work focuses on strengthening UI program integrity nationwide.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Employment and Training Administration (ETA).
What type of award is being offered?
The notice describes the award as a cooperative agreement. This structure generally indicates ETA expects ongoing involvement in guiding priorities and deliverables rather than operating as a hands-off grant.
How many awards does ETA plan to make under this opportunity?
ETA plans to make a single cooperative agreement award.
What is the anticipated funding amount for this opportunity?
The anticipated ceiling is $9,000,000.
Where does the funding for this award come from?
Funding is tied to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-75). Within the Department of Labor appropriation for State Unemployment Insurance and Employment Service Operations, Congress explicitly provided $9,000,000 for continued support of the UI Integrity Center of Excellence.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity open to multiple applicants?
No. The notice reflects this is not a broad competition and describes the action as a sole source award.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
ETA intends to make the sole source award to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies Center for Employment Security Education and Research (NASWA/CESER).
Who is NASWA/CESER?
NASWA/CESER is described as a 501(c)(3) organization established in August 1994 as NASWA's education and research arm. NASWA represents state administrators of the publicly funded workforce system, and CESER is positioned as a specialized provider of IT, education, and research support focused on UI and workforce development.
Why is NASWA/CESER being selected as the sole source recipient?
The announcement notes that NASWA/CESER has operated the Integrity Center since Fiscal Year 2017 and has longstanding relationships with state UI agencies and experience delivering multistate technical assistance and shared tools.
What is the main purpose of the UI Integrity Center of Excellence?
The core purpose is to strengthen UI program integrity nationwide. The Integrity Center supports states in reducing improper payments, expanding fraud prevention capabilities, and improving detection and response practices.
What kinds of activities or services will the Integrity Center provide to states?
The work emphasized includes training and technical assistance to state workforce agencies, as well as developing, curating, and disseminating program integrity resources such as guidance, training materials, promising practices, and operational tools.
What does the notice say about innovation and scalability?
The Integrity Center is expected to promote and support new tools and products that can be transferred and scaled across states, rather than one-off solutions that help only a single jurisdiction.
Why is there an emphasis on tools that can scale across multiple states?
The notice explains that fraud patterns often cross state lines and that states benefit from common approaches, shared analytics methods, interoperable solutions, and repeatable playbooks for prevention and detection.
What role does rapid information sharing play in the Integrity Center's work?
A major function is enabling quick alerts to states about emerging improper payment tactics and fraud schemes as they are identified. This includes spotting patterns, packaging actionable intelligence for state UI programs, and helping states adapt controls and countermeasures quickly to reduce repeated exploitation across states.
What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?
The funding opportunity number is ETA UI 2026 01.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 17.225.
What activity category is associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is Employment, Labor and Training.
What is the opportunity title as listed in the notice?
The title is "UI Integrity Center of Excellence Operations."
What was the original closing date mentioned in the notice?
The notice lists an original closing date of 2026-09-25.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed as "Others." However, the substance of the announcement indicates ETA's intent to make a sole source award to NASWA/CESER, with one expected award total.
How long has the Integrity Center been operated by NASWA/CESER according to the notice?
The notice states that NASWA/CESER has operated the Integrity Center since Fiscal Year 2017.
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