- After a review of the RFP I have a question regarding the potential amount of the award vs. the term. In Part I, G Estimated Length of Agreement: the term of the contract is estimated at three years contingent upon mutual consent. In Part II G Award Amount: the award amount is noted as ranging between $50,000 and $150,000. Is that award based on the total contract, e.g. three years, or is it an annual amount? Obviously that is a significant differential and I want to be sure of my interpretation.
Answer: The annual contract award amount is an annual amount awarded each year for each of the three yearly contract periods (each year) included in the estimated three year contract Term. The range is between $50,000 and $150,000. Bidders should prepare proposals in their offer that include only one annual budget for the first year of the contact. Contract awardees will subsequently prepare annual Program Plans in each succeeding contract year. These Program Plans will be the method for awardees to make any adjustments in their annual budget for that subsequent contract year. Program Plans for succeeding years are subject to approval and funding availability.
- In the newly released RFP for Title XX Donated Funds Initiative it states in Part II Section A that "Previous Title XX awardees of Mental Health Services during FY10-13 are not eligible for a follow-on or expansion of their previous Title XX award under this RFP; however, they are not restricted from and may apply for a new contract for different services under this RFP." Can you please explain to me why previous awardees are not eligible for a follow-on or expansion?
Answer: Program Sustainability is a key component inherent in the Department's Title XX concept of Maximizing Accountability and Excellence (MAX) Donated Funds Initiative (DFI). Accordingly, existing Title XX awardees are expected and have been guided towards, and their contracts have been monitored for their programs to extend beyond the end of the existing contract funding. Additionally, as the services proposed in the Request for Proposals are emerging best practices, the Department desires within the limited funding available to use this contracting effort to encourage the dissemination of these services across the state through the award of contracts to different providers.
- We are considering applying for this opportunity with a Community Health Clinic (a FQHC). Grant funds would allow us to hire an APN to expand the mental health services currently offered in our community. Heartland would bill Medicaid for the services provided. We would like to know if the Medicaid revenue generated could be used as a portion of the match. If so, we believe that in time the model would become self-sustaining based on the revenue generated from the Medicaid billing. The MAX DFI funds would assist with the start up costs of adding this service.
Answer: No. The delivery of a service paid for through the use of Title XX grant funds cannot then be separately claimed under Medicaid.
The Budget Narrative directions on page 33 of the RFP quoted below specifically prohibits double claiming.
"Note: While it is permissible for more than one funding source to share the costs of a given service, it is not permissible for two funding sources both to reimburse the same cost of a service. Double claiming is prohibited even if the combined sources do not exceed the expenditures."
Under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C., double claiming for services provided through Title XVIII Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled (Medicare), Title XIX Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs (Medicaid) and Title XX Block Grants to States for Social Services (Social Services Block Grants) is prohibited.
- In reviewing the RFP for the FY 14 Title XX RFP I have 2 questions for clarification.
1) Are the award amounts stated on page 11 in Section G Award Amount an annual figure for the award or the total award amount to each agency? I.e., $50,000 per year or $50,000 split between the 3 years.
2) Item B Page 4 regarding submitting applications states "Proposals should be bound with a single binder clip in the upper left-hand corner." The next paragraph states "applicants must submit one unbound, clearly identified signed original proposal and one copy of the proposal..." I take that to mean the original is not to have a binder clip on it. Am I correct?
Answer: Please see the answer to question # 1. No. Please use a single binder clip to bind the original. Do not bind the original in any other way such as staples.
- My organization received a Title XX grant for MHFA. Since that grant was awarded, MHFA has developed a training program for those who work with children and adolescents. Since these are two different training programs, may we apply for a Title XX grant to implement the child and adolescent version of MHFA?
Answer: Maybe yes or no, depending upon a review of your complete submission. However, please see the answer to question # 2 and understand that this is a competitive procurement with limited funding. Accordingly, you must fully distinguish your program from your previous award with the clear understanding that follow-on or expansion funding for previous awardees is not available. In addition proposals from previous awardees will receive an enhanced differential evaluation to ensure that the program being offered is not a follow-on or expansion of a previous award.
- We are a county health department (governmental entity) that provides public health and behavioral health services in our rural area. We are not a 501(c) (3) organization but are considered not for profit. Do we meet the requirements to apply for this funding?
Answer: Yes.
- Is the $150,000 award per year for 3 years (total $450,000) or a total of $150,000?
Answer: Please see the answer to question # 1.
- Regarding the Linguistic and Cultural Competency Guidelines. Under Vender Goal, the 2nd sentence states that 'Venders that meet the Vendor Parameters are asked to provide a plan meet the Goal'. Under the next section Vender Parameters, the description of a Vendor says 'All Agency purchase of care and/or grant requests for proposals for direct human services that exceed $250,000 will include the LCC Guidelines.' Does that mean that for grant applications under $250,000 the LCC Plan is not required?
Answer: No. The potential award amount made to an individual vendor is not the controlling parameter. The total dollar amount of funding available for this Request for Proposals is approximately $1,169,162, which is more than $250,000, therefore the Linguistic and Cultural Competency Guidelines requirement applies and an LCC Plan is required.
- a. Will DHS release/provide information about previously funded proposals such as abstracts/executive summaries?
b. Does the funding range ($50,000 to $150,000) represent annual awards or awards spread over the 3-year project period?
c. Are the award amounts from the FY2011 grant cycle representative of similar funding available this year?
d. Please clarify or provide more examples of what qualifies as in-kind match. For example, can admin expenses for program development, etc count?
e. How many meetings will grant recipients be required to attend, how many representatives will be required and where will the meetings be held (info to establish training budget)? Page 9 of the RFP states 2 meetings + a statewide conference. Page 22 states at least 3 regional meetings + a 1-day statewide meeting.
Answers:
a. No.
b. Please see the answer to Question # 1.
c. Possibly, actual award amounts though will depend upon the number and type of services selected for an award within the total amount of funding available.
d. Any allowable cost can qualify as an In-kind Match. Please review Attachment D.
e. The Department will attempt to conduct most vendor meetings through teleconference.
Meeting requirements depend upon the number and the type of mental health service awards actually made. Accordingly, only one (1) annual meeting at a central location should be included in your budget.
- Can an applicant use the grant funds to supplement mental health services/treatment provided in a fee for service setting?
For example - An individual visits a local medical facility for mental health care (a new service offered through the grant) and is billed a flat fee for the services provided. The grant funds pay a portion of the staff salary and benefits, Medicaid is billed for the services provided to generate the additional revenue needed/balance the budget. The salary would be supplemented with the grant funds for 2-3 years until the position becomes fully self-sustainable through Medicaid billing. The services billed to Medicaid would not include all the physical and mental health services provided in a coordinated care model.
Answer: Please see the answer to Question # 3.
- On page 11 of the RFP, "Introduction," is it the intent of the RFP that all five (5) of the emerging best practices be addressed within our proposal?
That is, are PBHI, Peer Support, Employment Services, MH Prevention and Education, and Rural Access each to be addressed within one RFP response?
Answer: No. Each service is independent of another. Vendors may propose to offer a single service or any combination of services; however, it is desirable that one of the services be identified as the primary service.
- Can one organization apply for more than one focused area if the work does not overlap?
Answer: Please see the answer to question # 11.
- Can an LLC which was just formed in the middle of calendar year 2012 which hasn't had an audit yet apply; if so, would it submit audits from the partners that formed the LLC?
Answer: Yes, if an LLC meets all other requirements the LLC may apply, and audits from the entities that formed the LLC should be submitted.
- We have questions that we hope you may be able to address:
1) The maximum award amount is $150,000. Therefore, may the applicant submit a total program budget of $187,500, which would be the composite total of the maximum award amount ($150,000) plus the 25% provider match ($37,500)?
2) We are to submit a one (1) year (FY14) detailed budget. Is the Program Implementation and Timeline (RFP page 20) also to be reflective of just FY14?
3) What is allowable as an "In-kind Expense"?
4) Can an MRO-eligible service be delivered to a Title XX MAX DFI recipient if the service is not expensed to the Title XX MAX DFI Program?
Answers:
1) $150,000 / .75 = $200,000; $200,000 x .25 = $50,000
2) Yes.
3) Please see the answer to question # 9.d. Any allowable cost can qualify as an In-kind Match. Please review Attachment D.
4) Yes. Please keep in mind that you may not separately bill Medicaid in addition to receiving the Title XX MAX DFI funds used to pay for the salary of an employee to provide a Title XX service. Please see the answer to question # 3.
- In Part II Section C, must there be provision of services in all of the following modalities; or, can an agency just pick one of the five services that it feels it can address effectively?
Answer: Please see the answer to question # 11.
- In Part II Section E, what are some typical ways of demonstrating need in one's geographic or catchment area?
Answer: Vendors are expected to clearly explain how the particular service they are offering to provide will address the need in the community for the service. Additionally, vendors are expected to clearly explain how they will be able to meet the Title XX Program requirement to identify and measure the deliverables, activities, and outcomes of the service provided. Typically, need for a particular service is determined by demographics and epidemiological morbidity estimates of the population to be served.
- In Part II Section F, what is an example of a "well-documented analysis of a service gap?"
Answer: Please see the answer to question # 16.
- In Part II Section G, it states that the "Applicants must be or have applied for certification by the IDHS Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure, and Certification (BALC).
Eligible Applicants - Public, private, or not-for-profit agencies are eligible to apply for these funds.
Agency Experience - The Applicant organization should be able to demonstrate experience in the provision of mental health programming for the services identified in Section C above. Additionally, the Applicant organization shall demonstrate its experience in consumer services, advocacy and prevention services, and employment services, through collaboration with local stakeholders." Again, does this mean the agency must demonstrate this for in all of these areas to apply for all of the services in Section C; or, demonstrate said abilities just in the service area being applied for?
Answer: Vendors should clearly explain their experience in providing mental health services as it relates to the service that they are offering to provide in response to the Request for proposals.
