Healing Illinois 24-444-80-2458-01

Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name Office of Strategy, Equity, and Transformation/Division of Family and Community Services
Agency Contact Caronina Grimble
Announcement Type Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title Healing Illinois
Funding Opportunity Number 24-444-80-2458-01
Application Posting Date 05/16/2023
Application Closing Date 06/23/2023
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-80-2458
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name Healing Illinois
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) N/A
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s) N/A
Award Funding Source State
Estimated Total Program Funding $5,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards 1
Award Range Up to $5,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement No
Indirect Costs Allowed Yes
Restrictions on Indirect Costs No
Technical Assistance Session Session Offered: Yes
Session Mandatory: No
Date/Time: Tuesday May 23, 2023, 10:00 AM
Registration Link: will be posted on Q and A page

A. Program Description

Healing Illinois works to build knowledge about and advance understanding of racial equity and racial justice, including an understanding of how the disparities and negative impacts of racism impact communities across the state. Healing Illinois is designed to support communities to engage in racial healing activities, using that knowledge and understanding to advance equity and racial justice. Healing Illinois will fund organizations to conduct racial healing activities including conversations about race, racial healing circles, restorative justice circles, community arts projects, and other activities that promote racial healing across Illinois.

  1. Program Summary

    • Build and advance knowledge and understanding of racial equity in communities across the State
    • Support partnerships between local stakeholders across the communities of Illinois to facilitate racial healing activities statewide
    • Promote trust and relationship-building between and among communities and residents of the State
    • Build a foundation for long-term racial healing and anti-racism in Illinois
      • The time for Healing Illinois is now. The disparate adverse impact of COVID-19 on Black and Latinx communities, coupled with the ongoing oppressive and structural tactics that uphold systemic racism and inequity have highlighted the need for racial healing, and the need to address the underlying systems that have created the conditions where vast racial disparities are allowed to exist. As we move ahead with the work of systemic change, we must also lay the groundwork for community healing, acknowledging the harms done to communities of color and providing the space for healing. Healing Illinois represents one step in that process, promoting racial healing for everyone, and advancing racial equity in Illinois. DHS will make one award for the Healing Illinois program. The start of the grant period will begin July 1, 2023.
      • Priority Strategies and Activities The Successful applicant will build a framework that focuses on community activities and, at a minimum, includes the following components:
        1. Building awareness: Create awareness of Healing Illinois in every community across the state
        2. Promoting dialogue: Supports current community efforts or facilitates new activities that build connection, understanding, and empathy within and across communities that lead to racial equity, justice, understanding, and healing
        3. Encouraging collaboration: Gather in person or virtually to connect and engage in racial healing activities
        4. Facilitating learning: Engage in projects that build and/or enhance knowledge and understanding of racial justice and restoration
        5. Developing connection: Building community through meaningful interpersonal interactions

  2. Funding Priorities or Focus Areas

    • IDHS is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity, and to prioritize and maximize diversity throughout its service provision process. This work involves addressing existing institutionalized inequities, aiming to create transformation, and operationalizing equity and racial justice. It also focuses on the creation of a culture of inclusivity for all regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.

  3. Authorizing Statutes or Regulations

    • The funding for the Healing Illinois initiative is made available through Public Act 101-27 effective 6-25-19 and Public Act 102-558 effective 8-20-21. The Department anticipates funding one applicant to provide Healing Illinois leadership and oversight. The successful Applicant will fund approximately 200 organizations to provide Healing Activities across Illinois.

  4. Scope of Services

    1. Serve as grantmaking /regranting entity, responsible for all grantmaking (subgrants, subcontracts, etc.), and all related grant reporting, including fiscal and program reporting.
    2. Create/implement a review process that allocates sub-grants and sub-contracts to organizations across Illinois to conduct racial healing activities.
    3. Support organizations by providing technical assistance as experts in the field or through experts in the field of racial healing and racial equity.
    4. Ensure organizations are adhering to program guidelines.
    5. Provide updates for the Healing Illinois website for access tools and resources and to document and share stories of the activities over the course of the project.
    6. Conduct program activities including a Healing Illinois launch event, coordination of statewide programming on Indigenous People's Day in October, racial healing programming and/or activities on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday in January, and additional days as determined jointly with IDHS.
    7. With Department input and approval, partner with a local, minority-owned communications firm to document and amplify the work via a robust communications strategy that engages grantees in documenting and sharing stories of their racial healing work through both online and traditional media platforms.

  5. Deliverables

    • The Grantee will:
      1. Develop a program action plan, including a grantmaking process to allocate up to $4.5 M in sub-grants and sub-contracts to organizations across Illinois to conduct racial healing activities. These activities may include facilitated small and large group conversations, racial healing circles, restorative justice practices, arts and culture activities, and other activities that meet the goals of the Healing Illinois project. The grant period will begin July 1, 2023, with the official launch to be no later than September 1, 2023. The grant period will conclude on June 30, 2024.
      2. Ensure that sub-grants and sub-contracts are distributed strategically across the state by allocating funds to each of the IDHS defined geographic regions.
      3. Maintain written agreements with sub-grantees and sub-contractors. The agreements at a minimum must include the following: type and frequency of services to be provided, projected number and demographics of targeted participants, partner organizations, and methods for documenting project activities.
      4. Document sub-grantee and sub-contractor eligibility and maintain documentation in the participants files for a minimum of five years.
      5. Coordinate and conduct activities for the Healing Illinois project launch event to take place no later than September 1, 2023.
      6. Coordinate and conduct racial healing/Healing Illinois activities (including but not limited to facilitated conversations) across the state on identified holidays, including but not limited to Indigenous People's Day, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
      7. Provide resources and technical assistance to sub-grantees and program participants using experts in the field and an online resource portal.
      8. Participate in weekly planning meetings with the IDHS Healing Illinois design team and project manager, and report to the Healing Illinois Leadership team.
      9. Create and implement a comprehensive communications plan, to include notification of Healing Illinois grant opportunities, documenting and amplifying the various Healing Illinois activities across the state, engaging across social media platforms, supporting, and amplifying the communication efforts of Healing Illinois sub-granted organizations.
      10. Expend program funds under any of the allowable cost categories, including expenses that are reasonable and necessary.
      11. Monitor and report on organizations that receive sub-grants or sub-contracts and collect documentation to ensure that funds were used appropriately on reasonable and necessary expenses. Reporting will be on a monthly basis.
      12. Convene an advisory committee to review proposals and recommend sub-grant recipients and sub-contractors. The advisory committee should reflect the diversity of the communities targeted.
      13. Report on deliverables and outcomes monthly, in accordance with IDHS reporting requirements.
      14. Submit data as requested to fulfill IDHS performance requirements.

  6. Performance Measures

    1. Projected number of sub-grants and sub-contracts made by January 31, 2024: 200
    2. Projected number of project activities completed by June 30, 2024: 800 total
    3. Projected number of individual participants in Indigenous Peoples Day facilitated conversations, statewide: 1000
    4. Projected number of individual participants in MLK Day 2024 activities, statewide: 1000
    5. Projected number of technical assistance partners: 2
    6. Projected number of unique digital and traditional media impressions: 400,000
    7. Creation and submission of timely and accurate fiscal and program reports.
    8. Weekly meetings/updates with IDHS Healing Illinois design team and project manager. Routine meetings with IDHS Leadership Team.
    9. Regular and active social media engagement across multiple platforms and in partnership with IDHS: daily social media posts on at least three social media platforms.

  7. Performance Standards

    • IDHS requires the successful applicants to meet the following performance standards:
      • * 50% of projected sub-grants and sub-contracts must be awarded by December 31, 2023, 100% of projected sub-grants and sub-contracts must be awarded by April 30, 2024.
      • * 100% of projected # of project activities must be completed by June 30, 2024.
      • * 90% of projected number of individual participants in Indigenous Peoples Day statewide activity will be met. 90% of projected number of individual participants in Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday 2024 activities will be met. 100% of projected number of technical assistance sessions will be met.
      • * 90% of projected unique impressions will be achieved.
      • * Timely and accurate fiscal and program reports. Weekly meetings/updates with IDHS staff.
      • * Daily social media posts on at least three social media platforms to create engagement across multiple platforms and in partnership with IDHS.

B. Funding Information

  1.  Total Amount of Funding

    • The Department anticipates the availability of approximately funding $5,000,000
    • The source of funding for this program is State funds.

  2. Number of Grant Awards

    • The Department anticipates funding approximately #one grant award to provide this program.

  3. Expected Amounts of Individual Grant Award

    • The Department anticipates that grant awards will be $5,000,000.

  4. Amount of Funding per Grant Award on average in previous years

    • Not applicable.

  5. Anticipated Start Dates and Periods of Performance for new grant awards.

    • Subject to appropriation, the grant period will begin no sooner than July 1,2023 and will continue through June 30, 2024.

  6. Renewal or Supplementation of existing projects eligibility

    • Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete with applications for new State awards.

  7.  Type of Assistance Instrument

    • This is a competitive grant award funding opportunity.

  8. Procurement Contract Allowability

    • Subcontractor Agreement(s) and budgets must be pre-approved by the Department and on file with the Department. Subcontractors are subject to all provisions of this Agreement. The successful applicant Agency shall retain sole responsibility for the performance and monitoring of the subcontractor.
    • Successful applicants under this NOFO may be eligible to receive two subsequent one-year grant renewals for this program. Renewals are at the discretion of the Department and are based on performance and sufficient appropriation.
    • The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award.

C. Eligibility Information

  1. Eligible Applicants

    • Applicants must commit to using a racial equity lens when implementing policies and practices, and when providing program services, including program evaluations. This can include reviewing disaggregated data, significant and critical reevaluations of racist assumptions and systems with an acknowledgment of the history and systemic drivers of inequitable outcomes. Training and technical assistance may be made available to successful applicants to further education and understanding of racial and ethnic disparities. This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements:
      • Agency Experience - Applicant should have demonstrated and extensive grantmaking experience, including the ability to efficiently conduct a review process that awards sub-grants and sub-contracts. Applicant should be able to convene a committee reflective of communities across Illinois to review proposals and recommend sub-grant recipients and sub-contractors. Applicant should have experience of appropriately and effectively addressing issues of equity and racial justice with a focus on community-involved racial healing/restorative activities. Applicant should also have training experience, and the ability to provide capacity-building expertise to grantee partner organizations. Applicant should have extensive understanding of and experience working with communities of color. Applicant should have experience planning and implementing racial healing circles/conversations, facilitated discussions/conversations, and cross-cultural conversations on a large scale. Applicant should have experience with coalition-building.
      • Staff Qualifications - Staff assigned to the Healing Illinois Project should have the appropriate training and capability to coordinate, train, provide and/or coordinate technical assistance to local community groups and organizations. Staff must have the appropriate levels of education, experience, and training to work with communities impacted by racial and economic inequities, and with communities not as impacted by racial and economic inequities. Staff should have existing relationships with a network of providers across Illinois. Staff must have the appropriate training and capability to efficiently and effectively direct a statewide grantmaking process. Staff must have excellent communication skills, and the capacity to be proactive with their project management.
      • The applicant has met the Prequalification and Mandatory Requirements listed in this funding opportunity.
      • This Funding Application is limited to those public or private, not-for-profit community-based agencies subject to 26 U.S.C. 501 (c) 3, or similar not-for-profit agencies in good standing with the State of Illinois. Failure to provide the requested information as outlined herein to demonstrate these criteria are met will result in the application being removed from funding consideration.

  2. Cost Sharing or Match Requirements

    • Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

  3. Indirect Costs

    • Indirect Costs may be applied to this grant award. Indirect cost rates (pdf) must be approved. In order to charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate. In order to charge indirect costs to this grant, the applicant organization must have a Federal or State annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or must elect to use the De Minimis Rate.
    • Every organization that receives a state award must make an indirect cost rate proposal or election in the State of Illinois Grantee Portal, Centralized Indirect Cost Rate Election System, including organizations that are choosing not to claim payment for indirect costs. 

D. Application and Submission Information

  1. Address to Request Application Package

    • The complete application package (this Notice of Funding Opportunity, including links to required forms) is available through the Illinois Catalog of State Financial Assistance. Each applicant must have access to the internet. The Department's web site will contain information regarding the NOFO and materials necessary for submission. Questions and answers will also be posted on the Department's website as described later in this announcement. It is the responsibility of each applicant to monitor that web site and comply with any instructions or requirements relating to the NOFO.

  2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    • Required Content

      • Applications must include the required documents and demonstrate that the program eligibility requirements have been met. The Department will not contact applicants for missing items listed below. Applicants that do not include all the following documents will be considered substantially incomplete and will not be considered for funding. All questions and submissions are to be sent to the Program Email Address: DHS.Healing@Illinois.gov
      • In case of issues with that email address, contact the Grant Coordinator, Russell.Hurst2@Illinois.gov. 
      • Page limits must be strictly adhered to. Any pages over the page limit will not be read or scored by the reviewers. We ask that applicants use Times New Roman 10 point or higher font size.

    • Executive Summary (2 pages) - 5 points

    • The Executive Summary will serve as a stand-alone document for successful applicants that will be shared with various state-level stakeholders and others requesting a brief overview of the funded project. Therefore, applicants should be concise and direct in their description and provide an overview of the services proposed with these funds, the projected outcomes that will be achieved as well as Agency history, Agency's understanding of the need for this work, and Agency's Capacity to provide services outlined. Proposal Narrative Content and Attachments If the applicant believes that the subject has been adequately addressed in another part of the application narrative, then provide the cross-reference to the appropriate part of the narrative. If a cross-reference is not included in the section, the reviewer will only consider content contained within that specific section.

    • Program Narrative - (page maximums noted below) - 70 points total

    • IMPORTANT: The program narrative makes up the bulk of your application. Please provide a complete response to the following sections. If the program narrative is missing from your application packet, your application will receive a score of zero points and your agency will not meet the criteria to receive a grant under this notice of funding opportunity.
    • If the applicant believes that the subject has been adequately addressed in another part of the application narrative, then provide the cross- reference to the appropriate part of the narrative. If a cross-reference is not included in the section, the reviewer will only consider content contained within that specific section. The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined below.
    • Proposal Narrative Content:
      1. Description of Need and Agency's Past Performance (3 pages maximum):
        • Describe, in detail, the organization and its understanding of the need for this work. Describe the agency's history of doing this work.
      2. Agency Capacity and Scope (5 pages maximum):
        • Describe, in detail, the Agency's Capacity to meet the requirements of this program.
        • Be sure to include:
          1. Administrative Capacity
          2. Key Staff 
          3. Agency's Use and Maintenance of Data
      3. Program Design and Implementation (5 pages maximum):
        • Describe the program design and implementation of the program, in detail, including measurable outcomes for:
          1. Sub-granting and Subcontracting
          2. Number of proposed unique events/activities
          3. Technical assistance and outreach
      4. Optional: Statement of Priority - 10 Points
        • Applicants may submit, a "Statement of Priority," for review and consideration as part of the application process. If the applicant organization is an otherwise qualified applicant under this funding notice and can demonstrate and attest to being led by diverse leadership, as defined by the make-up of the Board of Directors and the Organizations' senior leadership and management being more than 50% led by immigrants, refugees or LEP individuals and/or individuals of color.
      5. Budget - 15 Points
        • Applicants should provide a budget and a budget narrative for a maximum of $5,000,000 per service area over entire grant period (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). A PDF copy of this 12-month budget should be included in the application as Attachment 5: Applicant Uniform Grant Budget.
        • The budget and budget narrative must tie fiscal activity to program objectives and deliverables and demonstrates that all proposed costs are:
          1. Reasonable and necessary
          2. Allocable, and
          3. Allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), as applicable.
        • In this section, provide a detailed Budget Narrative of the items allocated within your proposed budget. This will include all funds budgeted for the program over this 12-month period. Identify the source of those funds and detail how the specified resources and personnel are being allocated to ensure the tasks, activities, goals, and objectives described in your proposal will be implemented. If you plan to use additional state or federal funds, or other funds to support the program, please also describe how these additional funds will be utilized to implement the program.
        • The FY24 budget for the FY24 grant period July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, must be submitted electronically in the CSA system (Refer to Appendix A: CSA Budget Information for more information and a link to budget forms). The Budget entered into the CSA system will include a narrative or detailed description/justification for each line in the budget and will describe why each expenditure is necessary for program implementation and how you arrived at the particular amount. Please include cost allocations as necessary. This narrative must also clearly identify indirect costs, direct program costs, direct administrative costs, and match within each line item as appropriate. The FY24 Budget (including MTDC base exclusions as appropriate) should clearly describe how the specified resources and personnel have been allocated for the tasks and activities described in your plan.
        • The Budget must be electronically signed and submitted in the CSA system. The Budget must be signed by the Provider's Chief Executive Officer and/or Chief Financial Officer. (Refer to Section C. Eligibility Information and Grant Funding Requirement; 5. Registration in CSA.) If indirect costs are included in the budget, a copy of the approved NICRA must be included with the Application as Attachment 6: Applicant NICRA.
        • IMPORTANT: Please be sure the budget status in CSA says "GATA Budget signed and submitted to program review." This status will appear after the budget is electronically signed by the agency CEO or CFO and submitted to IDHS.
        • If the Uniform Grant Budget is not entered, signed, and submitted in the CSA system by the application due date and time, 5 points will be deducted from the Budget Narrative section of the application. 

    • Required Forms

      • The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance (pdf) is a three-page document used to formalize organization's request to apply for funding. The document requires the signature and email address of the organization's authorized representative. This email address will be used for official communication between the Department and the applicant organization for matters regarding this application

    • Required Format

      • The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined below or points may be deducted.

    • Pre-Award Requirements

      • All successful applicants are required to complete a risk assessment prior to execution of a grant award. The Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ) is one instrument used to assess risk of grantees by identifying an organization's potential weaknesses. The ICQ is accessed through the Grantee Portal.

  3. Unique Entity Identifiers and SAM Registration

    • Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal or State awarding agency that is exempt from those requirements under 2 CFR § 25.110(b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal or State awarding agency under 2 CFR § 25.110(d)) is required to:

      •  Be registered in SAM.gov before the application due date.
      • Provide a valid unique entity identifier (UE) in its application
      • Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal, Federal pass-through or State award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal or State awarding agency.
      • The Department may not make an award until applicant has fully complied to all UEI and SAM requirements
      • The department may determine that an applicant is not qualified if they have not complied to requirements and use that determination as a basis to award to another applicant.

  4. Application Submission Dates and Times

    • Application Due Date and Time

    The Department must receive the Full Application

      • Due on June 23, 2023 at 5:00PM CST.
    • Applicants must electronically submit the complete application including all required narratives and attachments in the prescribed order.
      • Applications must be sent electronically to DHS.Healing@Illinois.gov. The application will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. The Department will ONLY accept applications submitted by electronic mail sent to DHS.Healing@Illinois.gov. Include the following in the subject line: NOFO number and your agency name. Application submissions or delivery to any other email address or contact, including other IDHS offices or employees, will not be considered for review or funding. Applications will NOT be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk or thumb drive.
      • Applicants are required to notify the Department within 48 hours of the deadline, if they did NOT receive an email notifying them that their application was received. If the applicant does not receive an email and/or does not notify the Department within 48 hours, their application will be considered a late submission and will NOT be reviewed or scored. The applicant will NOT have the right to protest the submission/receipt of their application to the Department after the 48 hours. In the event of a dispute, the applicant bears the burden of proof that the application was received on time at the email location listed above.

    • Missed Deadlines

      • Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered for review or funding. All applicants/applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be separately notified in writing, by email, upon determination. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification. For your records, please keep a copy of your submission with the date and time the application was submitted along with the email address to which it was sent. The deadline will be strictly enforced.
      • IMPORTANT: It is strongly recommended that the applicant not wait until the last minute to submit an application in case they experience technical difficulties with the submission process. Applicants should keep copies of all documentation that that may prove their application was submitted to the correct location and that it was received by IDHS on or before the deadline. Applicants should also maintain all electronic documentation, including screen shots, email correspondence, help desk ticket numbers, etc. that would document any unforeseen difficulties the applicant may have encountered regarding the timely submission of the application.

  5. Intergovernmental Review

    • This funding opportunity is NOT subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."

  6. Funding Restrictions

    • Pre-Award Costs

      • Pre-Award Costs are allowed subject to the discretion, review, and prior approval of the IDHS Budget Committee. Pre-Award Costs must be identified as such in the IDHS Uniform Grant Budget Narrative. Pre-award costs are/are not allowable.
      • IDHS grants are governed by 2 CFR. Part 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles and 30 ILCS 708 which include information on allowable costs, audit requirements, and financial records.

  7. Other Submission Requirements

    • Proposal Container and Format Requirements:

    • Applicants must electronically submit the complete application to this email address DHS.Healing@illinois.gov including all required narratives and attachments in the prescribed order:
      1. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance
      2. Executive Summary
      3. Program Narrative
      4. Description of Need
      5. Agency Capacity and Scope
      6. Program Design and Implementation
      7. Optional Statement of Priority
      8. Budget
      9. Attachments, if any
    • The program narrative must comply with specifications stated in the "Content and Form of Application Submission" section including the Executive Summary. Items included as Attachments are NOT included in the submittal limitations. Applications will be accepted as described herein. Faxed copies, hard copies, etc. will not be accepted. Applications that are inconsistent with the instructions herein will be subject to loss of points. The Department is under no obligation to review applications that do not comply with the above requirements. Intergovernmental Review.
    • This funding opportunity is NOT subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
    • Funding Restrictions The applicant must develop a budget consistent with program requirements.

E. Application Review Information

All competitive grant applications are subject to merit-based review.

  1.  Criteria

    • ALL applicants must demonstrate that they meet all requirements under this NOFO as described throughout. Applications that fail to meet the criteria described in Section C "Eligibility Information" will not be scored and/or considered for funding.
    • All applicants / applications determined to be non-compliant or otherwise determined to be disqualified from consideration will be notified. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.
    • Grant applications received will be reviewed by a Merit-Based Review Panel including staff from the Office of Strategy, Equity, and Transformation.
    • Cost sharing will not be considered in the review process.
    • The maximum possible score is 100 points if Statement of Priority is included, and 90 points maximum if excluded.
    • Executive Summary - 5 Points
      • Service area pertaining to the 102 Illinois Counties
      • Need for the services
      • Capacity to provide the services
      • Approach to addressing major goals
      • Approach to advancing racial healing
      • Projected numbers to be served within each program component
      • Organizational experience and expertise in advancing racial healing
      • Organizations understanding of and approach to racial healing
      • Total number of unduplicated customers proposed to be served for the grant period (annually) including ethnicity, gender, and age.
      • Ability to meet specific deliverables for the grant period
    • Program Narrative - 3 Parts for 70 Points Total
      • Description of Need and Agency's Past Performance - 15 of 70 Points
        • Agency's understanding of and approach to racial healing
        • Agency's approach to addressing major goals
        • Discuss agency's experience and expertise in advancing racial healing
        • How is your agency designed to counteract systemic racism and inequity
        • How does the agency prioritize and maximize equity and diversity
        • Clear understanding of the concepts: equity, racial equity, racial justice.
        • Clear understanding of the need to counteract systemic racism and inequity.
        • Clear understanding of the need for racial healing activities.
        • Describe the agency's experience and past performance in conducting this work
        • How does the Agency reflect IDHS' commitment to advance equity and racial justice by enabling all to thrive, regardless of race, zip code, and disability
        • Strong and successful history of community grantmaking, conducting racial healing activities, identifying, and addressing racialized disparities.
        • Ability to plan, conduct, and evaluate racial healing circles
        • Demonstrate ability to plan/implement/produce/facilitate online and in-person events, within COVID- 19 protocols.
        • Track-record and knowledge of providing statewide technical assistance to community organizations.
      • Agency Capacity - 30 of 70 Points
        • Strong and sound fiscal conditions.
        • Demonstrated ability to serve as grantmaking entity for racial healing program including capacity to convene a diverse committee to review proposals and make sub-grant and sub-contractor recommendations that serve/support the entire State of Illinois
        • Agency has an online grantmaking system.
        • Agency has a data collection and storage process.
        • Agency's ability/capacity to prioritize equity.
        • Method and strategy to ensure equitable schedule of fund distribution, to ensure resources are equitably distributed.
        • Ability and experience in building and sustaining community alliances and collaborative efforts.
        • Ability to provide required data/information reports on a timely basis to evaluate the program.
        • Staff capacity to coordinate, train, and provide technical assistance.
        • Strong management, supervision, and well-organized internal organizational structure to insure effective program implementation.
        • Name Key Staff and their qualifications for this work. Attach resumes at the end of the application.
        • Discuss capacity for planning and implementing racial healing circles, facilitated discussions, and cross-cultural conversations on a large scale.
        • Discuss agency's existing relationships/partnerships, if any, with other organizations that may contribute to this program
        • Extensive grantmaking experience, including the ability to efficiently and effectively direct a statewide grantmaking process.
        • Plan for providing technical assistance, online and off-line
        • Evidence of staff qualifications, experience, and capability to carry out the proposed program.
      • Program Design and Implementation - 25 of 70 Points
        • Plan to identify a geographically diverse group of subgrantees and subcontractors.
        • Plan to equitably distribute and maintain grants, subgrants, and subcontracts throughout the state.
        • Projected number of subgrants, to reflect statewide engagement.
        • Describe agency's plan to implement activities across the 102 counties in Illinois
        • Number of Illinois residents engaged in racial healing activities:
        • Number of Illinois communities engaged in racial healing activities:
        • Number of racial healing activities statewide:
        • Number of sub-grantee and sub-contractor group engagements (including but not limited to peer-to-peer connections, large group events/learnings, trainings, technical assistance)
        • Number of technical assistance sessions
        • Number of digital and traditional media impressions
        • Describe the agency's plan in providing technical assistance online and off-line.
        • Provide an outreach plan which consists of outreach strategies, creative outreach methods and potential community partners.
        • Total number of unduplicated customers proposed to be served for the grant period (annually) including: ethnicity, gender, and age.
        • Plan to meet specific deliverables for the grant period
        • Plan for reporting both quantifiable and qualitative results and reporting those results to DHS
      • (Optional) Statement of Priority - 10 Points
        • Does the applicant demonstrate and attest to being led by diverse leadership, as defined by the make-up of the Board of Directors and the Organizations' senior leadership and management being more than 50% led by immigrants, refugees or LEP individuals and/or individuals of color.
      • Budget - 15 Points
        • Thorough and clear justification for all proposed line-item expenditures.
        • All expenditures and program costs are reasonable and allowable.
        • Proposed staffing is sufficient to address project operational needs.

  2. Review and Selection Process

    • The process for evaluation of the application is as follows: Merit Based Review. The numerical score may not be the sole award criterion. The Department reserves the right to consider other factors such as: geographical distribution, demonstrated need, and agency past performance as a state grantee, etc. While the recommendation of the review panel will be a key factor in the funding decision, the Department maintains final authority over funding decisions and considers the findings of the reviewers to be non-binding recommendations. Any internal documentation used in scoring or awarding of grants shall not be considered public information.
    • In the event of a tie with insufficient funding for all tied applications, the Department may choose to elect one of the following options
      • Apply one or more of the additional factors for consideration described above to prioritize the applications
      • Partially fund each of the tied applications
      • Not fund any of the tied applications.
    • The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc.

  3. Merit-Based Review Appeal Process

    • Competitive grant appeals are limited to the evaluation process. Evaluation scores may not be protested. Only the evaluation process is subject to appeal and shall be reviewed by IDHS' Appeal Review Officer (ARO).

      Submission of Appeal

    • Appeals submission IDHS contact information
      • Name of Agency contact for appeals: Russell Hurst
      • Email of Agency contact for appeals: DHS.Healing@Illinois.gov
      • Email Subject Line: Merit Based Review Appeals

      An appeal must be submitted in writing to appeals submission IDHS contact listed above, who will send to the IDHS Appeal Review Officer (ARO) for consideration.

      • An appeal must be received within 14 calendar days after the date that the grant award notice has been published.
      • The written appeal shall include at a minimum the following
        • Name and address of the appealing party
        • Identification of the grant
        • Statement of reasons for the appeal.
        • Supporting documentation, if applicable

      • Response to Appeal

        • IDHS will acknowledge receipt of an appeal within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the appeal was received.
          1. IDHS will respond to the appeal within 60 days or supply a written explanation to the appealing party as to why additional time is required.
          2.  The appealing party must supply any additional information requested by IDHS within the time period set in the request.

      • Resolution

        • The ARO shall make a recommendation to the Agency Head or designee as expeditiously as possible after receiving all relevant, requested information.
          1. In determining the appropriate recommendation, the ARO shall consider the integrity of the competitive grant process and the impact of the recommendation on the State Agency.
          2. The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination.
          3. The determination shall include, but not be limited to
            • Review of the appeal
            • Appeal determination
            • Rationale for the determination.

  4. Simplified Acquisition Threshold - Federal Awards

    • Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently $250,000 (Refer to 2 CFR 200 Section 200.88). Therefore, the grantee is subject to Simplified Acquisition Threshold. Refer to Section C. 8. Grant Funds Use Requirements for more information.

F. Award Administration Information

  1. State Award Notices

    • Applicants recommended for funding under this NOFO following the above review and selection process will receive a Notice of State Award (NOSA). The NOSA shall include
      • Grant award amount
      • The terms and conditions of the award
      • Specific conditions, if any, assigned to the applicant based on the fiscal and administrative (ICQ), programmatic risk assessments (PRA) and merit-based review.
    • Note: The Department cannot issue a NOSA until the successful applicant has an approved budget entered into CSA. The applicant shall receive the NOSA through the Grantee Portal. The NOSA must be signed by the grants officer (or equivalent). This signature effectively accepts the state award amount and all conditions set forth within the notice. This signed NOSA is the document authorizing the Department to proceed with issuing an agreement. The Agency signed NOSA must be remitted to the Department as instructed in the notice.
    • The notice is not an authorization to begin performance (to the extent that it allows charging to State awards of pre-award costs at the non- State entity's own risk).
    • A written Notice of Denial shall be sent to the applicants not receiving the award.

  2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    • The agency awarded funds shall provide services as set forth in the IDHS grant agreement and shall act in accordance with all state and federal statutes and administrative rules applicable to the provision of the services.
    • To review a sample of the FY2024 IDHS Uniform Grant Agreement.

  3. Reporting

    • Upon execution of the grant agreement, reporting shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Uniform Grant Agreement and related Exhibits which includes, but is not limited to the following
      • Time Period for Required Periodic Financial Reports. Grantee shall submit financial reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 13.1 of the Uniform Grant Agreement and reports must be submitted no later than 15 days after the quarter ends.
      • Time Period for Close-out Reports. Grantee shall submit a Close-out Report pursuant to Paragraph 13.2 of the Uniform Grant Agreement and no later than 15 days after this Agreement's end of the period of performance or termination.
      • Time Period for Required Periodic Performance Reports. Grantee shall submit Performance Reports to Grantor pursuant to Paragraph 14.1 of the Uniform Grant Agreement and such reports must be submitted no later than 30 days after the quarter ends.
      • Time Period for Close-out Performance Reports. Grantee agrees to submit a Close-out Performance Report, pursuant to Paragraph 14.2 of the Uniform Grant Agreement and no later than 30 days after this Agreement's end of the period of performance or termination.
      • Other Unique Programmatic Reporting Requirements: Additional annual performance data may be collected as directed by the Department and in a format prescribed by the Department.

  4. Payment Terms

    • It is the policy of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) that this policy complies with 2 CFR 200.302, 2 CFR 200.305, 31 CFR 205 (procedures implementing Cash Management Improvement Act and Treasury-State Agreement (TSA)), and 44 Ill.
    • Admin. Code 7000.120 (GOMB Adoption of Supplemental Rules for Grant Payment Methods). Three different award payment method exist, namely Advance Payment, Reimbursement, and Working Capital Advance. 

G. State Awarding Agency Contact(s)

H. Other Information, not applicable

N/A

I. Mandatory Forms