Regional Care Coordination Agency 23-444-26-3078

  Summary Information

Awarding Agency Name	Illinois Department of Human Services
Awarding Division Name	Substance Use Prevention and Recovery
Agency Contact	Sherrine Peyton Sherrine.Peyton@Illinois.gov (217) 720-7250
Announcement Type	Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title	Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA)
Funding Opportunity Number	23-444-26-3078
Application Posting Date	January 23, 2023
Application Closing Date	February 21, 2023, 5:00 p.m.
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number	444-26-3078
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name	Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	Not Applicable
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s)	Not Applicable
Award Funding Source	State - Opioid Settlement Funds, General Revenue Funds and Other State Sources
Estimated Total Program Funding	$4,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards	1 or 2-7
Award Range	$500,000 - $4,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement	Yes
Indirect Costs Allowed	Yes
Restrictions on Indirect Costs	Yes.  Title 44, Part 7000
Technical Assistance Session	A Technical Assistance Session was held on February 7, 2023. If you would like a copy of the materials, contact Jennifer.Jennings@Illinois.gov

A. Program Description

1. Program Summary

The United States is in the middle of the deadliest drug crisis in its history. Fueled by the growing opioid crisis, drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death nationwide for people under 50. There were an estimated 107,891 overdose deaths in 2021, the highest number of overdose fatalities recorded in 12 months (CDC May 2022). This increase began before the COVID-19 pandemic but accelerated throughout 2020 and 2021.

In Illinois, more than 3,000 people died of overdoses in 2021. The non-Hispanic Black population has the highest overdose fatality rate in all age groups except 25-34 (IDPH May 2022). Beyond these deaths, thousands of non-fatal overdoses result in emergency department visits, hospital stays, and the pain suffered by individuals, families, and communities. The opioid crisis is a significant public health and safety crisis facing the people of Illinois.

The State recognized the ongoing issues associated with substance use disorders and the overdose crisis and established the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee through Executive Order 2020-02.pdf in 2017. The State continues to engage in efforts to address the opioid crisis by implementing evidence-based practices, the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Recovery Steering Committee (Steering Committee), and the sustainability of the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances to provide equitable access to essential State services. On April 1, 2022, Governor Pritzker announced the launch of the State of Illinois Overdose Action Plan (SOAP.pdf). The plan is a collective call to action that focuses on five priorities and 25 strategy recommendations for reducing overdose deaths in Illinois.

As a result of multiple lawsuits won due to damages caused by producers and distributors of opioids, the State of Illinois has the opportunity to increase resources in communities hardest hit by the opioid crisis. In August 2022, Executive order 2022-19 established the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board ("Advisory Board"), which serves as a sub-committee to the Steering Committee and provides non-binding recommendations to the Steering Committee on how to disperse the opioid settlement funds equitably.

IDHS' Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and anti-Racism

The mission of the Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery (IDHS/SUPR) is to provide a recovery-oriented system of care along the continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support where individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), those in recovery, and those seeking services and their family are valued and treated with dignity and where stigma, accompanying attitudes, discrimination, and other barriers to optimal health are eliminated.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity and to prioritize and maximize diversity throughout its service provision process. This work addresses existing institutionalized inequities, aims to create transformation, and operationalizes equity and racial and social justice. It also focuses on creating a culture of inclusivity for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.

There is a critical need in Illinois to enhance the current prevention, treatment, and recovery-oriented system of care to support individuals, families, and communities most impacted by the opioid crisis and who continue to face service inequities due to social determinants of health experienced across the state. Social Determinants of Health are conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age and are shaped by a set of forces beyond the control of the individual and include material circumstances, as well as psychosocial and behavioral characteristics, people's living and working conditions, such as pay, housing access, and medical care. This service inequity is often higher for people of color and people in rural communities. However, State-funded services addressing substance use disorders can improve social determinants of health that impact substance use.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to fund preferably one Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA) to establish sub-awards with organizations providing prevention, intervention, treatment, and harm reduction services for substance use disorders and core abatement strategies to prevent opioid overdoses and prospectively improve the social determinants of health in all seven regions of the state. If there is no state-wide submission or no state-wide submission with a minimum base score of 70 points (not including the additional points given for state-wide applicants), then the state will prioritize regional proposals (1 - 6 regions) based on scores and our goal to serve all seven regions for funding. Applicants may submit for state-wide, multiple regions, or a single region, however, it is the state's preference to award a single organization with the capacity to coordinate the program for each region through sub-awards.

2. Funding Priorities or Focus Areas

The Regional Care Coordination Agency (RCCA), directed by the State, will reach and assist people with substance use disorder (SUD) and their families across the State of Illinois, prioritizing designated areas of the State that are not currently receiving SUD services and those hardest hit by the opioid crisis. The services implemented through this award will enhance the ability of the State to support and expand resources that reduce drug overdoses and increase recovery capital initiatives on a regional level and especially in areas in each region that have experienced opioid overdose disparities. SOAP Report

3. Authorizing Statutes or Regulations

Grant funds administered under this NOFO (including subrecipients of the RCCA) are required to adhere to the requirements outlined in:

• Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) 30 ILCS 708
• Illinois Administrative Code, Government Contracts, Title 44, Part 7000
• Grantmaking, Procurement, and Property Management, and federal regulations under Grants and Agreements. 2 CFR 200
• The RCCA and its subrecipients shall also adhere to and be accountable for the requirements and policies outlined in the IDHS/ SUPR Contractual Policy Manual.

4. Scope of Services

The RCCA will assist IDHS/SUPR in equitably implementing essential State resources in areas of the state disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis.

5. Deliverables

RCCA(s) will provide the State of Illinois with an external source of program administration, regulatory compliance, and business solutions.

The RCCA will establish subrecipient contracts with local and regional organizations addressing opioid overdoses, substance use disorders and equity and racial and social justice that are in alignment with the strategies and activities as set forth by IDHS/SUPR.

On a quarterly basis, The RCCA will develop or collaborate with local or regional recovery councils or coalitions that can inform the RCCA and the State of regional disparities associated with substance use disorders and people's living and working conditions, such as housing access, medical care, and overdose spikes in the region. In addition, the RCCA will complete an annual work plan that includes how the RCCA sub-recipients' organizations plan to address institutionalized inequities and improve people's social determinants of health regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.

The RCCCA will establish a process to ensure that all contracts under the responsibility of the RCCA's are in compliance with applicable State and federal laws related to procurement requirements, including the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA).

Further, the RCCA's and sub-recipients shall adhere to applicable legal, federal, and State requirements related to relevant funding sources, including but not limited to conditions outlined in the Opioid Settlement Agreement, Illinois Cannabis Regulation Fund Act, and applicable regulatory requirements such as the Illinois Substance Use Disorder Act, and any other relevant State statutes.

In collaboration with SUPR, the RCCA will provide training and technical assistance to sub-recipients to meet their program implementation and reporting requirements and meet and sustain compliance with all applicable State and federal laws related to implementation.

Through the input of regional stakeholders, recovery councils, or coalition or a SUD/OUD focused subcommittee of a coalition or advisory group, the RCCA will ensure that State funds address local priorities concerning the opioid crisis, community disparities, and new substance use disorder trends in their designated region. Proposed efforts funded with State money must address equity and inclusion issues, be culturally and linguistically competent, improve the social determinants of health in the region and, as applicable, fall under strategies identified in the State Overdose Action Plan, Executive Order 2020-19, or IL Opioid Allocation Agreement.

• The RCCA shall follow the specific funding requirements before establishing a sub-award using opioid settlement funds:
• The RCCA will submit sub-recipient funding requests to IDHS/SUPR's Office of Opioid Settlement Administration. The request must be submitted using the Department's request form, available to RCCAs post-award.
• IDHS/SUPR's State Opioid Settlement Administrator (SOSA) will present all funding requests that meet the intent for the funds to the Advisory Board for consideration at the next scheduled meeting and following the Open Meetings Act rules.
• The Advisory Board will review the funding request and determine if recommendation approval will be sought from the Steering Committee. The Office of Opioid Settlement Administration will work with RCCA to implement strategies approved by the Steering Committee.

6. Performance Measures

1. Develop and maintain systems and protocols to ensure sub-recipient requests align with the intent of the funding.
2. Develop and maintain systems and protocols to ensure funded organizations comply with all sub-recipient procurement.
3. Develop and maintain systems, training, technical assistance, and protocols to ensure funded organizations comply with program or strategy evidence-based requirements, evidence-informed or best practices as applicable.
4. Develop and maintain one coalition or advisory group per designated region.
5. Complete one annual work plan per designated region.

7. Performance Standards

1. Adherence to the process and requirements for strategy selection and funding request process.
2. Each RCCA sub-recipient meets all grant accountability and transparency act requirements (GATA) and any corresponding corrective actions as outlined in the sub-recipient agreement for each RCCA contract.
3. Demonstration that all funded sub-recipients complete required training, licensing, or applicable implementation protocols including staff training and licensing.
4. 75% of the coalitions or subcommittee(s) per designated region were convened once per quarter year.
5. Regional work plan(s) is approved by the State upon the first submission with few or minor revisions.

B. Funding Information

• This is a competitive funding opportunity.
• This is a new funding opportunity.
• The amount requested should be no more than $500,000 per region if applying for West Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Marion, Metro East or Rockford regions, and up to $1,000,000 if applying to cover the Bellwood (Cook County) Region.
• A proposal, at minimum, must cover an entire region.
• Only applicants proposing to serve the entire State may request the maximum amount of $4,000,000.
• The anticipated start date is April 1, 2023.
• Grantees may be eligible to receive one subsequent one-year grant renewal for this program. Renewals are at the discretion of the Department, based on performance and sufficient appropriations.
• The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award.
• The source of funding for this program is State funds.
• Subject to appropriations, the grant period will begin no sooner than April 1, 2023, and will continue through June 30, 2023.
• Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new State awards.
• Proposed budgets must be sufficiently detailed and justified to be approved by IDHS. Successful applicants will NOT receive a grant agreement until after their budget has been approved through the Community Service Agreement tracking system (CSA).
• Subcontractor Agreements 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.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

A successful applicant for the RCCA grant is an organization with experience and capacity in project management, experience applying for and administering large-scale awards over one million dollars, sub-recipient contracting, experience working with local, county, and State agencies and public health initiatives, information systems to support collaborative work, and systems in place to demonstrate efforts toward fulfilling project scope and deliverables.

This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements:

1. Applicant has met the organizational financial and legally mandatory criteria listed under "Prequalification Requirements" in this funding opportunity.
2. Applicant may be a private or public, non-profit, or for-profit entity, including local governments, academic institutions, or other community-based organizations.
3. Applicants must have a current physical office location in Illinois and have key program staff in place 60 days post-award.
4. Applicants who receive funding or plan to apply for funding to offer treatment, prevention, and recovery services cannot apply to serve as an RCCA.
5. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity, experience, and expertise to meet the deliverables related to the administration of grant funds and program monitoring.

Failure to meet the eligibility criteria by the application deadline will result in the return of the application without review or, even though an application may be reviewed, will preclude the agency from receiving an award.

2. Prequalification

The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 et seq., is landmark legislation that increases accountability and transparency in the use of grant funds while reducing the administrative burden on both State agencies and grantees through the adoption of the federal grant guidance and regulations codified at 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Requirements). Pursuant to the Act, the Grant Accountability and Transparency Unit (GATU) has been established in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. GATU is charged with the implementation of the Act in coordination with State grant-making agencies and grantees.

These pre-award requirements mandated by GATA entail registering your organization and meeting certain requirements. For access to the Illinois GATA Grantee Portal, you can Sign In if you have registered in GATA before, or "Create an Account" if you have never registered your organization. You must start with an External Illinois.gov ID which can be obtained at the following web link Create Illinois.gov Account. Once you have an Illinois ID, you are ready to register.

The website GATA pre-Qualification steps will walk you through all the prequalification and pre-award steps and includes links for each step.

1. Grantee Registration - Register your organization with the State of Illinois
2. Have a valid EIN number Obtain an EIN/FEIN
3. Have a registration / up-to-date SAM.gov account and a Unique Entity Identifier (UIE) How to register in SAM.pdf

The prequalification steps are mandated by Federal Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) and the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA). An organization must be in qualified status by the application review date set by the State awarding agency as well not have a federal debarred or a State suspended status, nor be on the Illinois Stop Payment List, and be in good standing with the Secretary of State. The GATA registration process includes checking these statuses.

3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI replaced DUNS April 2022) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant is required to:

• Be registered in SAM.gov before submitting its application. Provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; if your organization does not yet have a EIU/DUNS, request one
• Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award, an application ,or plan under consideration by the Department

The Department may not make an award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Department is ready to make an award, the Department may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

4. Pre-Award Requirements

Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment (ICQ)

Entities must complete an Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ) as the Fiscal and Administrative Risk Assessment.The ICQ is completed once, annually. All State agencies will utilize the results of the ICQ. The entity can access the ICQ from the grantee portal.

5. The CSA Tracking System

The CSA is the system the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) utilizes for approving budgets and issuing grant awards. If an applicant entity is not already registered in the CSA Tracking System, they should begin the registration as soon as possible so they may submit a signed budget to CSA. Successful applicants will NOT be issued an award without a fully approved budget in the CSA System. See the CSA registration instructions.

The agency awarded funds through this NOFO must agree to comply with all applicable provisions of State and federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment, and equal employment opportunity including, but not limited to: The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.), The Public Works Employment Discrimination Act (775 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), The United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended) (42 USC 2000a-and 2000H-6), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.), and The Age Discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.).

6. Cost Sharing or Match Requirements

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

7. Indirect Cost Requirements and Restrictions

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.

8. Indirect Cost Rate Election:

• Federally Negotiated Rate. Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA and submit an Indirect Cost Rate Proposal in the Crowe Activity Review System (CARS).
• State Negotiated Rate. The organization may obtain a negotiate indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois by completing an indirect cost rate proposal in the CARS system if they do not have a Federally Negotiated Rate and would like to negotiate a rate with the State of Illinois de minimis rate.

• Located in Illinois "No Rate": Grantees have the discretion not to claim payment for indirect costs. Grantees that elect not to claim indirect costs cannot be reimbursed for indirect costs. The organization must record an election of "No Indirect Costs" into the Indirect Cost Rate Election System.

Organizations that have not previously made an indirect cost rate election must submit an election (and indirect cost rate proposal, if necessary) immediately and no later than 3 months after receiving an award notification. If the organizations elect to submit a Federally Negotiated Rate or a State Negotiated Rate, they will receive an invitation to submit their proposal in the CARS system.

Organizations that have previously established an indirect cost rate election and would like to continue with a Federal or State Negotiated Rate must submit a new indirect cost rate election immediately and no later than 6 months after the close of their organization's fiscal year.

Organizations that do not make a submission inside the CARS system within the required timeframes will not be allowed to claim indirect cost reimbursement.

9. Other Requirements (if applicable)

Not Applicable.

10. Grant Fund Use Requirements

All awarded applicants will use grant funds according to the guidelines, conditions, and parameters set forth in this funding notice and in compliance with federal statutes, regulations, and the terms and conditions of any applicable federal awards.

Please refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs.

• Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity contained in the Scope of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200. It is expected that administrative costs, both direct and indirect, will represent a small portion of the overall program budget. Any budget deemed to include inappropriate or excessive administrative costs will not be approved. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation.
• Unallowable costs: Refer to 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, PART 200 Subpart E - Cost Principles to determine the appropriateness of costs. In addition, and specific to this grant, the following costs will be unallowable without specific prior written approval from IDHS.
• Entertainment costs, except where specific costs that might otherwise be considered entertainment have a programmatic purpose and are authorized in the approved budget (2 CFR 200.438)
  • Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439)
  • Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439)
  • Food, and other goods or services for personal use of the grantee's employees, contractors, or consultants of the grantee unless authorized as per diem under the State of Illinois Governor's Travel Control Board (2 CFR 200.445).
  • Deposits for items, services, or space
• In addition to the above, any contractual agreement between the RCCA and another party (being paid with grant funds) must include special language to allow IDHS/SUPR access to the other party's records, relative to the grant. This includes construction subcontractors, consultants who provide services, and any other entity with which the grantee has a legal agreement to expend grant funds. Please see the separately attached pdf document entitled "Third Party Contractual Requirements" for this language (to incorporate into your legal subcontracts).
• Simplified Acquisition Threshold: Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award more than the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently $250,000 (Refer to 2 CFR 200 Section 200.88). Therefore, the grantee must be aware of the following regarding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold as it will be applicable to any qualifying subaward:
• That the grantee agency, prior to making a subaward with a total amount of funds greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, is required to review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS) (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).
  • That an applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that the awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.
  • That the awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in §200.205 awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.

11. Post Award Requirements of Applicant

Successful applicants agree to provide program services as described throughout this Funding Notice.

Start Date: Applicants must be able to begin offering services on April 1, 2023.

• Technology: Agencies awarded funds through this funding notice should have a computer that meets the following minimum specifications for the purpose of utilizing any required IDHS web-based reporting system and the receipt/submission of the electronic program and fiscal information:
  • Internet access, preferably high-speed
  • Email capability
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • WebEx
  • Adobe Reader

The purchase of this technology would be an allowable expenditure under the grant and may be budgeted for as part of this application.

• Compliance Reviews: The applicant agrees to participate in fiscal and program, compliance reviews as requested by the Department.
• COVID Policies and Procedures: Applicant shall have written COVID policies and procedures that align with current guidelines put forth by the local Health Department, the Illinois Department of Public Health and/or the Center for Disease Control.
• Sectarian Issue: Applicant may not expend federal or State funds for sectarian instruction, worship, prayer, or to proselytize. If the Applicant is a faith-based or a religious organization that offers such activities, these activities shall be voluntary for the individuals receiving services and offered separately from the program.
• Hiring and Employment Policy: It is the policy of the Department to encourage cultural diversity in the work environment and to promote employment opportunities through its programs. The Department philosophy is that the program workforce should appropriately reflect the populations to be served, with special attention given to hiring individuals indigenous to those communities. Consistent with Department policy, whenever a position becomes available, funded programs are encouraged to consider TANF clients for employment, contingent upon their qualifications in the areas of education and work experience.
• Publication of Studies, Reports, or other Program Products: The applicant agrees that products produced for the Department under this award, including, but not limited to research reports, data, analyses, and policy recommendations are the property of the Department and will not be published or distributed except as prescribed by the Department.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

Application materials are provided throughout this announcement. Appendices will be made available in user/printer friendly format and may be found on the Illinois Department of Human Services web site. copies may be obtained by contacting the Department at the email address below.

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.

The final deadline to submit any written questions regarding this Funding Notice will be Wednesday, 2/08/2023. The Final listing of Q&A will be posted by End of Day on Monday, 2/13/2023

Program Email Address: Sherrine.Peyton@Illinois.gov Phone: 217-270-7250

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance

The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance 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.

Program Narrative

IMPORTANT: The program (proposal) 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.

Proposal Narrative Content

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.

A. Organizational Experience (20 points)

Describe your organization, its mission, and its experience awarding and managing subrecipients, and request for proposals. State if there are any additional conditions or limitations that may be relevant when making the awards that should be clearly identified in the proposals.

Describe your experience providing consulting services or as an outsource organization, program administration, regulatory compliance, and business solutions.

Identify and describe the IDPH region(s) your organization is proposing to serve and how your organization's capacity and plan to improve the recovery-oriented system of care along the continuum of prevention, intervention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support where individuals with substance use disorder (SUD).

If an applicant applies for multiple IDPH regions or the entire State, they also must indicate if they would be willing to accept an award for fewer regions than what they proposed. Describe the staffing plan to fulfill the grant requirements (include resumes of Key Personnel or Job Description if To Be Hired). Obtain or designate the minimum required staff outlined in the Scope of Services within 30 days of grant award notification (unless an exception has been granted by IDHS/SUPR).

• Describe the Applicant's relevant organizational qualifications and experience over the last five (5) years in the following:
  • Providing project management services
  • Overseeing, managing, and coordinating large grants
  • Working with cities, counties, or State agencies on public health initiatives

B. Capacity to Coordinate State or Regional Services (20 points)

Describe how your organization will achieve the Objectives outlined in the Scope of Services in section 4.

Describe your organization's experience, capacity

1. In addressing service gaps related to the opioid crisis and describe your organization's experience working directly or indirectly with organizations providing substance use prevention, social equity, treatment, and recovery, harm reduction, populations, and public safety
2. Working directly with community coalitions.
3. In establishing processes that will expedite subrecipients requests for funding, including how you plan to ensure that funding aligns with funding requirements.
4. Specifically relates to substance use and other behavioral health service system.

C. Diversity Equity, and Inclusion (10 points)

Services provided under this NOFO and its subrecipients should reflect IDHS' commitment to advancing equity and racial and social justice by enabling all to thrive, regardless of race, zip code, and disability. This includes but is not limited to

• Leadership that is reflective of the community/population being served
• Policies on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and racial justice
• Policies and practices that demonstrate equity in access to support and services
• A process to identify and address implicit bias in all areas of the organization, including programming; and
• Providing equity and racial justice training for staff and subrecipients.

Describe how your organization reflects or plans to reflect IDHS's commitment to advance equity and racial and social justice as described above within your organization and with subrecipients.

Describe how your organization will use an equity lens when funding subawards. An equity lens is a process that analyzes the impact of policies and practices on marginalized communities to inform and ensure equitable outcomes. Include your organization's written commitment to advancing equity and racial justice. If one is not yet written, please detail when and how such a Statement will be institutionalized.

Describe your organization's experience addressing systemic racism, inequity and how you have prioritized and maximized diversity through your service/administrative provision process.

Describe your organization's experience identifying regional data that can inform communities disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis and a description of how subrecipients can address the disparities.

D. Fiscal & Performance Monitoring (20 points)

Describe your organization's experience with

• Capacity and plans related to grant administration and fiscal/performance monitoring, development of Notice of Funding Opportunities, and GATA requirements and procurement protocols.
• Improved accountability and transparency in the use of grant funds requirements
• Providing technical assistance to stakeholders on audit requirements, interpretation of audit results and proper corrective action to avoid repeat audit finding.

Describe and outline your approach to project management including establishing workflows and timelines, client communication protocols, and systems of operation utilized (i.e., any project management tools, dashboards). Include examples of timelines, communication plans, and reporting tools/templates from previous projects as part of the Work Plan appendix (will not count towards the page count).

E. Data Collection & Reporting (5 points)

The purpose of this section is to provide specific information about how you will collect the required data for this program and how the data will be utilized to manage, monitor, and enhance the program.

Describe your organization's experience, capacity, and plan for subrecipient data collection and reporting.

Describe your organizations experience with:

1. Grant reporting to satisfy funding requirement.
2. Completing annual fiscal & performance monitoring.
3. Compiling and analyzing data.
4. Tacking progress toward health equity in the proposed service region through data collection and sharing

Describe your agency's experience in collecting and reporting data on participating in activities similar to what is described in this NOFO (i.e., utilizing community collaborative process for input and data collection experience in funding subrecipients to this scale). Highlight any experience your agency has in the collection of data and use of any federal or State of Illinois data reporting system.

F. Training & Technical Assistance to Subrecipients (5 points)

The purpose of this section is for the applicant to present an accurate picture of the agency's ability to meet the program requirements to provide training and technical assistance to subrecipients. The applicant will need to include their experience in the personnel, and training required to start a new program and how they will apply those experiences to the development of this program. Highlight those resources that your organization will utilize to implement the program or budget to support the program goals and objectives. Ensure to include current staff that has the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the program.

Describe your organization's plan to provide training and technical assistance for required training including culturally and linguistically responsive services that reflect the culture, racial, ethnic, and linguistic characteristics of the populations you propose to serve and how the training and technical assistance services will address diversity across the service area.

This section should include information on how your organization implements Trauma Informed Care, Evidence-Based Practices, Innovative Practices, and National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health CareNational Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care.

G. Grant Budget (10 points)

Applications must include a budget submitted via the Uniform Grant Budget Template which is a form on the DHS website (Uniform Grant Budget Template; Budget Template Instructions). The budget and narrative must tie fiscal activity to program objectives and deliverables and must demonstrate that all proposed costs are:

• Reasonable and necessary
• Allocable; and
• Allowable as defined by program regulatory requirements and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), as applicable.

Each applicant must submit their budget through the CSA tracking system by the same deadline of February 21, 2023, by 5:00 pm CT. The CSA budget and included narrative should express and support the submitted program narrative. The Division's program and fiscal staff will work with awardees to negotiate a budget for the final grant award which will then need to be uploaded via the Uniform Grant Budget in the CSA Tracking System. This will be required before the start of the grant period. The budget may need to be revised over the course of the grant process or during the ongoing award.

The budget submitted in CSA should be prepared for three months (April - June 30, 2023). DHS/SUPR anticipates that the term of the agreement resulting from this NOFO will be April 1, 2023, continuing through June 30, 2023, and will require the mutual consent of both parties, be dependent upon the Grantee's performance and adherence to the program requirements and the availability of funds.

• IDHS/SUPR may withdraw this Notice of Funding Opportunity at any time prior to the actual time a fully executed agreement is filed with the State of Illinois Comptroller's Office.
• If it becomes necessary or appropriate for IDHS/SUPR to change any part of this NOFO, a modification to the NOFO will be available from the IDHS website. In case of such an unforeseen event, IDHS/SUPR will issue detailed instructions on how to proceed.
• To assure all necessary requirements have been met, please see the IDHS website. Please review the checklists to ensure each attachment for the NOFO is included. Any application missing attachments will not be reviewed.

H. Single RCCA for the State of Illinois (10 points)

Describe your capacity and experience to be the single RCCA for the State of Illinois and serve all seven IDPH regions.

Describe your experience and capacity implementing statewide initiatives in other States.

Describe your experience developing and maintaining dashboard technology or software to track projects, health outcomes, or other related data.

Indirect Cost Information

If indirect costs are included in the budget, and the applicant has a current approved NICRA, please ensure the NICRA has been uploaded to the State of Illinois Indirect Cost System if indirect costs are included in the proposed budget.

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. "How To Register in SAM" reference tool.
• Provide a valid unique entity identifier (DUNS number) in its application; and
• Continue to always maintain an active SAM registration with current information 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.
• For more information, refer to Section C: Eligibility Information and Grant Funding Applications that fail to meet the criteria in Section C: Eligibility Information and Grant Funding will not be scored and/or considered for funding.

Application Format Requirements

Electronic submission is required and should be submitted as follows:

• The Division will ONLY accept applications submitted by electronic mail. Applications will NOT be accepted if received by fax machine, hard copy, disk or thumb drive. Applications will be processed as they are received.
• Submit the completed grant application (all packet application forms as one pdf) to - DHS.GrantApp@Illinois.Gov with the subject line - Your Organization Name, 23-444-26-3078-01, Uniform State Grant Application, Sherrine Peyton. Email must NOT be encrypted.
• If you have trouble emailing the document due to the file size, please contact Sherrine Peyton, State Opioid Settlement Administrator at Sherrine Peyton 

Preferred submissions should have all documents: (1) with a font of 12-size; (2) with one-inch margins; (3) with each page displaying page numbers; and (4) single-spaced.

The narrative portion must follow the page maximums where prescribed and must be organized in the format outlined below.

• The Program Narrative shall not exceed 15 pages. If there are more than 15 pages, the remaining pages will not be reviewed or scored.
• All documents must be typed using Times New Roman 12-point type,100% magnification, and use black typeface on a white background, except for letterhead.
• For charts and tables, only Times New Roman 10-point with color may be used.
• The Program Narrative must be typed single-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides.
• The submission must be on 8 1/2 x 11-inch page size using pdf or pdf portfolio.

 Other Application Requirements

The Attachments must be in the following order:

• Attachment A: Organization Chart
• Attachment B: Resumes of Key Personnel or Job Description
• Attachment C: 15-month Project Implementation Timeline
• Attachment D: Procurement Plan (Not to exceed 5 pages)
• Attachment E: Approved NICRA (if applicable)

Application Packet

The application packet consists of:

• The three-page Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance form
• Cover Page (not scored: The Cover Page must contain the following information and be placed on top of the application packet
  • Name of Applicant
  • Type of Applicant Organization: Address of Applicant Point of Contact and email addresses for Applicant Organization, Fiscal Contact, Program Contact (can be the same as the Applicant POC if TBH),
  • Proposed Region(s)
• The Program Narrative (15 pages max, single-spaced, 12-point font)
• Attachments A-E (if an attachment does not apply, submit a sheet with the attachment letter and "N/A")
• The Budget must be submitted to the CSA Tracking System

The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance

The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance is a three-page document used to formalize the 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.

Intergovernmental Review

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

4. Application Submission Dates and Times

• The application and all required documentation shall be submitted electronically and should be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 21, 2023. What the deadline means: The date and time by which the State awarding agency must receive the application.
• The effect of missing a deadline: Applications received after the due date and time will not be considered for review or funding.
• To be considered, applications must be emailed by the date and time listed above. For your records, please keep a copy of your email 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. In the event of a dispute, the applicant bears the burden of proof that the application was received on time at the location listed above.
• Acknowledgment of receipt: Applicants will receive an email (within 72 hours of receipt or 120 hours if received on a non-business day) notifying them that their application was received and if it was received by the due date and time. This email notification will be sent to the original sender of the application.
• Submission Method: Email or Another Electronic Platform No password required.
• Acceptable Proof of Timely Submission: Electronic time date and stamp

Funding Restrictions

The applicant must develop a budget consistent with program requirements.

Refer to Section C. Eligibility Information, 3. Indirect Cost Rate for Indirect Cost Rate Restrictions and Match Requirement details.

The following funding restrictions apply:

• Unallowable activities dictated by the funding terms
• Institution of Higher Education Indirect Cost Rate Restrictions
• 2 CFR 200 - Subpart E Allowable/Unallowable Costs
• Restrictions on Pre-award Costs See Pre-Award Costs section below
• Other unique and regulatory programmatic restrictions

5. Other Submission Requirements

Not Applicable.

E. Application Review Information

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

1. Criteria and Weighting of Each Criteria

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 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.

Applications will be scored using the rubric below by objective reviewers with knowledge of the program goals and review criteria. Scores will be awarded based on the following questions applied to each section:

• Was the applicant thorough and responsive in their answer and included examples each section
• Did the applicant address every question asked in the section
• Did the applicant provide data or references for data or other Statements Regional and the most recent available data preferred.
• Did the applicant demonstrate that there was a consideration for the disparate population, a plan to address stigma, and bias, and incorporate DEI
• Does the applicant responses demonstrate that they read the State of Illinois Overdose Action Plan, the Opioid Settlement Agreement, Exhibit B., and the Governor's Executive Order 2022-19: Regarding the Administration of Settlement Proceeds Received from Illinois Opioid Litigation to inform their responses

Section	Max Points
A. Organizational Experience	20
B. Capacity to Coordinate State or Regional Services	20
C. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion	10
D.Fiscal & Performance Reporting	20
E. Data Collection & Reporting	5
F. Training & Technical Assistance to Subrecipients	5
G. Grant Budget	10
H. Single RCCA for the State of Illinois	10
Total Possible	100

2. Review and Selection Process

As described in the Criteria section above, evaluation of the application will be done by IDHS/SUPR and if possible, subject matter experts and staff from other State of Illinois departments. An application should have a score of 70 or higher to 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; or
• Partially fund each of the tied applications or
• Not fund any of the tied applications.

The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc. These negotiations do not obligate DHS to provide funding, nor should an applicant draw any conclusions about the Department's intentions to fund or not fund the application.

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: Sherrine Peyton
• Email of Agency contact for appeals:  Sherrine Peyton
• Email Subject Line: "agency name RCCA 23-444-26-3078-Sherrine Peyton"

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; and
  • 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• 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.
• The Agency will resolve the appeal by means of written determination.
• The determination shall include, but not be limited to:
  • Review of the appeal;
  • Appeal determination; and
  • 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 FY2023 IDHS Uniform Grant Agreement.

The agency awarded funds through this Funding Notice must further agree to comply with all applicable provisions of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity including, but not limited to: The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.), The Public Works Employment Discrimination Act (775 ILCS 10/1 et seq.), The United States Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended) (42 USC 2000a-and 2000H-6), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC 794), The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 USC 12101 et seq.), and The Age Discrimination Act (42 USC 6101 et seq.). Additional terms and conditions may apply.

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

Financial Management

Effective 10/26/2021 IDHS adopted and implemented Administrative Directive 01.07.01.070 Grant Payments. This Administrative Directive complies with 2 CFR 200.302, 2 CFR 200.305, 31 CFR 205 (procedures implementing Cash Management Improvement Act and the Treasury-State Agreement (TSA)), and 44 Ill. Admin. Code 7000.120 (GOMB Adoption of Supplemental Rules for Grant Payment Methods). Three different award payment methods exist, namely Advance Payment, Reimbursement, and Working Capital Advance. Each is described on the IDHS website: Grantee Payment Methods Notification.

G. State Awarding Agency Contact(s)

If you have questions about this NOFO, please contact Sherrine Peyton

H. Pre-Award Costs

Not allowed.

I. Other Information

Program Websites

DHS website

Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board webpage

SUPR webpage

Regional Map :  https://dph.illinois.gov/contact-us/regional-health-departments.html

The release of this NOFO does not obligate the Illinois Department of Human Services to make an award.

The Department reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to adjust award amounts, targets, deliverables, etc. These negotiations do not obligate DHS to provide funding, nor should an applicant draw any conclusions about the department's intentions to fund or not fund the application.

J. Mandatory Forms

• Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance
• Uniform Grant Budget Template | Instructions
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure