--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1397n–3" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "1397n–3" heading: "Feasibility study funding" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1397n-3" units: - "Chapter 7 — Social Security" - "Subchapter XX — Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice" - "Division C — Social Impact Demonstration Projects" --- # §1397n–3. Feasibility study funding - (a) **Requests for funding for feasibility studies—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall reserve a portion of the amount made available to carry out this division to assist [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local governments in developing feasibility studies to apply for [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) impact partnership funding under [section 1397n–1 of this title](/usc/42/1397n–1.md). To be eligible to receive funding to assist with completing a feasibility study, a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government shall submit an application for feasibility study funding addressing the following: - (1) A description of the outcome goals of the [social impact partnership project](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=4). - (2) A description of the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2), [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) anticipated program design, target population, an estimate regarding the number of individuals to be served, and setting for the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (3) Evidence to support the likelihood that the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2) will produce the desired outcomes. - (4) A description of the potential metrics to be used. - (5) The expected [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) benefits to participants who receive the [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2) and others who may be impacted. - (6) Estimated costs to conduct the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2). - (7) Estimates of Federal, [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5), and local government savings and other savings if the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) is implemented and the outcomes are achieved as a result of each [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (8) An estimated timeline for implementation and completion of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), which shall not exceed 10 years. - (9) With respect to a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for which the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government selects an intermediary to operate the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), any partnerships needed to successfully execute the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) and the ability of the intermediary to foster the partnerships. - (10) The expected resources needed to complete the feasibility study for the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government to apply for [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) impact partnership funding under [section 1397n–1 of this title](/usc/42/1397n–1.md). - (b) **Federal selection of applications for feasibility study—** Not later than 6 months after receiving an application for feasibility study funding under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6), in consultation with the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships and the head of any Federal [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) administering a similar [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2) or serving a population similar to that served by the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), shall select [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government feasibility study proposals for funding based on the following: - (1) The recommendations made by the Commission on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships. - (2) The likelihood that the proposal will achieve the desired outcomes. - (3) The value of the outcomes expected to be achieved as a result of each [intervention](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=2). - (4) The potential savings to the Federal Government if the [social impact partnership project](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=4) is successful. - (5) The potential savings to the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) and local governments if the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) is successful. - (c) **Public disclosure—** Not later than 30 days after selecting a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government for feasibility study funding under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall cause to be published on the website of the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships information explaining why a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government was granted feasibility study funding. - (d) **Funding restriction—** - (1) **Feasibility study restriction—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may not provide feasibility study funding under this section for more than 50 percent of the estimated total cost of the feasibility study reported in the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government application submitted under [subsection (a)](#a). - (2) **Aggregate restriction—** Of the total amount made available to carry out this division, the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may not use more than $10,000,000 to provide feasibility study funding to [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local governments under this section. - (3) **No guarantee of funding—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall have the option to award no funding under this section. - (e) **Submission of feasibility study required—** Not later than 9 months after the receipt of feasibility study funding under this section, a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) or local government receiving the funding shall complete the feasibility study and submit the study to the Federal Interagency Council on [Social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) Impact Partnerships. - (f) **Delegation of authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may transfer to the head of another Federal [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) the authorities provided in this section and any funds necessary to exercise the authorities. ## Source credit (Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2054, as added Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VIII, § 50802(2), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 275.)