Refugee Resettlement planning is set to enter a new implementation phase under a proposed federal cooperative agreement worth up to $3.5 million.
Table of Contents
Refugee Resettlement Update
The proposed agreement focuses on the planning infrastructure behind refugee resettlement.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement, part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, announced the proposed single-source award on November 6, 2026.
The proposed recipient is the Welcoming Initiative for Newcomers, or WIN, a San Diego, California-based organization that previously performed the initiative’s nationwide baseline assessment.
The proposed period of performance runs from November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027.
What the proposed agreement would fund
The agreement would support the next phase of ORR’s State Capacity and Readiness Initiative, a refugee resettlement planning effort.
The initiative is designed to help ORR evaluate whether states and local refugee-serving organizations have the infrastructure, staffing, partnerships and service capabilities needed to support a state-centered refugee resettlement model.
WIN would update its assessment of state readiness and conduct a nationwide review of local resettlement partners.
The review would examine what local organizations need from state governments, ORR, training providers and other partners to deliver services effectively.
The work would also identify service gaps, capacity limitations and unmet implementation needs that could affect future Refugee Resettlement planning.
ORR said the resulting recommendations could inform additional grants, contracts, technical assistance or other federal resources.
State pilots and implementation support
A major part of the proposed agreement would involve supporting ORR pilot activities.
WIN would recommend methods for collecting information and evaluating the pilots.
The organization would coordinate regular engagement with participating states and local partners.
It would also document implementation experiences and prepare summaries of lessons learned.
The project is expected to produce a national data dashboard to assist with capacity planning.
The dashboard and related assessments could give federal and state officials a more organized view of staffing, service delivery, partnerships and other readiness indicators.
States outside the pilot group would also be included in the initiative.
For those states, WIN would assist ORR and regional staff with meetings, agendas, briefing materials and other engagement activities.
The notice does not identify which states will participate in the pilots.
Why ORR selected WIN for a single-source award
ORR said it intends to use a single-source cooperative agreement because WIN completed the initiative’s previous baseline work.
That earlier work included a nationwide assessment of state readiness and capacity, along with related planning products, analytical methods and stakeholder relationships.
According to the notice, selecting the same organization would allow the implementation phase to build directly on the existing methodology and findings.
ORR said this approach could avoid repeating earlier data collection, rebuilding stakeholder relationships or reconstructing the project’s history.
The agency also said continuity could help it use fiscal year 2027 pilot findings in fiscal year 2028 program and resource planning.
A single-source award is not the same as an open competition in which multiple organizations submit proposals for evaluation.
In this case, ORR cited WIN’s prior participation and institutional knowledge as the basis for the proposed selection.
What a cooperative agreement means
The announcement describes the action as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant with limited federal involvement.
Under the proposed arrangement, ORR would help refine the work plan, identify priority questions and coordinate engagement with participating and nonparticipating states.
ORR would also review assessment tools and project products and help determine how the findings could shape future federal assistance.
The agency said that level of continuing federal participation supports the use of a cooperative agreement.
The notice describes the award as an intent to provide funding, so the announcement itself does not establish a new benefit program for refugees or create an application process for individuals.
How the plan fits federal refugee law
ORR cited Section 8 of the Refugee Act, codified at 8 U.S.C.
1522, as the statutory authority for grants and contracts with public or private nonprofit organizations involved in initial refugee resettlement.
The law also directs federal officials to consult with state and local governments and nonprofit voluntary agencies on refugee placement and resettlement policies.
It calls for state recommendations to be considered, to the maximum extent possible, when determining refugee placement within a state.
The proposed initiative is intended to create planning and assessment tools that can support that state and local involvement.
It does not, by itself, change the statutory eligibility rules for refugee admission, alter immigration benefit procedures or require states to accept a particular number of refugees.
What refugees and service providers should know
For refugees and applicants, the most important point is that the proposed agreement is an administrative capacity-building project rather than a direct assistance announcement.
It does not announce new cash assistance, medical coverage, employment benefits or immigration status changes.
People seeking refugee-related services should continue working through established state agencies, local resettlement organizations and official ORR-supported providers.
Local service providers may eventually see changes in assessment requests, pilot coordination, training materials or federal technical assistance as the initiative moves forward.
States and organizations involved in Refugee Resettlement should monitor ORR and ACF announcements for implementation details, pilot participation information and future funding opportunities.
Expected products from the project
ORR expects the project to produce updated findings on state and local capacity.
Other expected products include analyses of service and support gaps, pilot-learning summaries, training and technical assistance recommendations and materials for state engagement.
WIN is also expected to provide recommendations that could influence future ORR program and funding decisions.
Those recommendations may help the agency determine where additional grants, contracts or technical assistance are most needed.
However, the Federal Register notice does not guarantee that every recommendation will result in a future award or program change.
What happens next
The proposed performance period began on November 1, 2026, although the Federal Register notice was published on November 6, 2026.
ORR will remain substantially involved in refining the work plan and reviewing the project’s tools and findings.
The next publicly significant developments are likely to involve implementation details, state and local engagement activities and the release of assessment or pilot products.
The project is intended to give ORR a stronger evidence base for future Refugee Resettlement decisions while helping states and local partners identify the resources needed to serve newcomers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding is ORR proposing for the Welcoming Initiative for Newcomers?
ORR announced a proposed single-source cooperative agreement of up to $3.5 million for WIN in San Diego, California.
What is the proposed project period?
The proposed period of performance is November 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027.
Will the agreement provide direct payments to refugees?
No. The notice describes a capacity-building, assessment and technical assistance project rather than a direct benefits program for individuals.
Why did ORR choose WIN?
ORR said WIN completed the initiative’s prior baseline assessment and already has the methodology, project knowledge and stakeholder relationships needed for the next phase.
What will the project study?
The project will assess state and local resettlement capacity, support pilot implementation, identify service gaps, develop training resources and recommend future federal assistance.
Fact-Checked: This article was checked against the November 6, 2026, Federal Register notice and the current official text of 8 U.S.C. 1522.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and does not provide legal, immigration or benefits advice.
New Minimum Wage In Canada and 5 Provinces, Effective April 1
