Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program 24-444-80-3227

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
Announcement Type Competitive
Funding Opportunity Title Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program
Funding Opportunity Number 24-444-80-3227
Application Posting Date 08/17/2023
Application Closing Date 09/18/2023 5:00PM CST
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Number 444-80-3227
Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) Popular Name Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program
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 $2,000,000
Anticipated Number of Awards 1
Award Range $2,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement No
Indirect Costs Allowed Yes
Restrictions on Indirect Costs Yes
Technical Assistance Session Session Offered: Yes
Session Mandatory: No
Date/Time: August 25, 2023/1:00PM-2:00PM CST
Registration 

DHS is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity, and to prioritize and maximize equity and diversity throughout its service provision process. This work involves correcting existing institutionalized inequities, sparking transformation, operationalizing equity, and racial justice, and creating a culture of inclusivity for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ability. Organizations that provide services under this funding opportunity and all related programs must reflect DHS' commitment to advancing equity and racial justice by enabling all to thrive, regardless of race, zip code, and disability. This includes but is not limited to having leadership (board and/or executive staff) that is reflective of the community/population being served; having (or an intention to develop) a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA)/racial justice plan that outlines how the organization ensures equity in access to its supports/services as well as equity in outcomes; having a plan to identify and address implicit bias in all areas of the organization, including programming; having (or an intention to develop) an equity and racial justice training plan for organization staff.

IDHS recognizes that the language around gender and sexuality continues to evolve rapidly, even as this NOFO was being drafted. As such, IDHS will continue to be as responsive as possible to these changes and refinements as the understanding of these complex constructs related to sexuality and gender evolves.

A. Program Description

  • The Transgender/Gender Diverse (TGD) Wellness and Equity Program is a new initiative focused on coordinating inclusive health, wellness, employment, housing supports, education, and other services to enable individuals that identify as transgender, gender diverse, intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer to thrive. The successful applicant for this NOFO will work towards a comprehensive solution to expand access to gender affirming care for the TGD/LGBTQ+ communities in Illinois.
  • Glossary of terms (some definitions adapted from an APA Informational Guide):
    • Cisgender/Cis: Refers to individuals whose sex assigned at birth is aligned with their bodies and their gender identity.
    • Gender-affirming health care: A broad term that encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions that are designed to support and affirm a person's gender identity when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth (as defined by the World Health Organization)
    • Gender Identity: An individual's inherent sense of being a girl, a woman, or female; a boy, a man, or male; or an alternative gender, which may or may not correspond to an individual's sex assigned at birth or to an individual's primary or secondary sex characteristics.
    • LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer): An acronym that refers to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, as well as other sexual orientations and gender identities outside of heterosexual and/or cisgender.
    • Gender-Diverse: Refers to individuals whose gender identity falls outside of exclusively either male or female (also often referred to as non-binary)
    • TGD (Transgender/Gender Diverse): An acronym that encompasses those who identify as transgender, genders outside of male or female, non-binary, or are otherwise not cisgender.
    • Transgender: An umbrella term that incorporates differences in gender identity wherein an individual's sex assigned at birth is not aligned with their gender identity

  1. Program Summary

    • The need to enhance supports for the TGD community is dire and urgent. Across Illinois, many individuals who are transgender and non-binary are suffering due to environmental stress factors such as discrimination, stigma, violence, and harassment, along with the lack of access to fundamental resources such as gender-affirming care. Although research continues to demonstrate how gender-affirming care, including medical and behavioral health, is both medically necessary and often times lifesaving, access to this type of care is difficult, if not impossible, for much of the TGD population. Additionally, isolation caused by the pandemic, as well as the increasing amounts of national anti-LGBTQ sentiments and legislation have exacerbated these conditions for the community. The TGD population deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, as well as given equitable access to the resources needed in order to thrive. The successful applicant will work towards a comprehensive solution for these issues.
    • The successful applicant will expand a framework that focusses on providing gender affirming care for the TGD/LGBTQ+ community. Gender affirming care is a broad term that encompasses a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions that are designed to support and affirm a person's gender identity when it conflicts with the gender they were assigned at birth. DHS will make one award for the TGD Wellness and Equity Program for the period between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.
    • This NOFO's priority is to fund one intermediary organization who will provide funding to organizations across Illinois to expand and increase the availability of culturally and medically competent gender-affirming care as defined above. The intermediary will provide subrecipients administrative oversight (financial and programmatic), training, and technical assistance (directly or via subcontract) utilizing subject-matter-experts and the most recent culturally competent, medically competent, and inclusive information. Subrecipients should have a history of and experience with serving the TGD/LGBTQ+ population. Subrecipient funded services, at a minimum, shall include but not be limited to the following organization capacity-building components:
      • Expand cultural and medical competence. Equip organizations and staff currently serving the TGD/LGBTQ+ community to better provide gender-affirming health care in a safe and welcoming environment.
      • Increased behavioral health supports. Increase organizational capacity to hire qualified behavioral health professionals to provide culturally and medically competent mental health supports and services to the TGD/LGBTQ+ community.
      • Transition supports. Increase the capacity (including but not limited to staffing levels) of organizations to provide care for more TGD/LGBTQ+ individuals, including but not limited to counseling, resources to assist with changing appearance, and speech therapy.
      • Expand capacity for organizations currently providing gender-affirming care to address the social determinants of health, historical and contemporary trauma, and its unique impact on Black, indigenous, and other people of color in the TGD/LGBTQ+ community.

  2. Funding Priorities or Focus Areas

    • Funding allocated under this grant is intended to support the TGD Wellness and Equity Program activities as described above. Program budgets and narratives must detail how all proposed expenditures are necessary for program implementation. Additional consideration will be made for organizations with diverse leadership.

  3. Authorizing Statutes or Regulations

    • The funding for the TGD Wellness and Equity Program 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 TGD Wellness and Equity leadership and oversight. The successful Applicant will sub grant organizations to provide TGD Wellness and Equity programming and services across Illinois.

  4. Scope of Services

    1. Serve as lead agency/entity, responsible for providing and managing sub-grants and sub-contracts, and all related grant reporting, including fiscal and program reporting.
    2. In collaboration with DHS, create and implement an equitable process to identify a diverse set of community partners across Illinois for sub-granting and sub-contracting, to ensure services and supports are available in all five DHS regions of the State.
    3. Serve as lead agency/entity, responsible for allocating sub-grants and sub-contracts to eligible and qualified organizations across Illinois to support, guide, and enhance services and supports to the TGD/LGBTQ+ population across Illinois, as outlined in this Notice of Funding Opportunity.
    4. Support sub-organizations by providing training and technical assistance as needed.
    5. Support the expansion of access to gender-affirming health care, both related and unrelated to medical gender transition, including behavioral health care.
    6. Recruit, train, and manage regional TGD Healthcare Navigation Specialists, which may include partner organizations for these expanded services.
    7. Coordinate and sustain a network of TGD/LGBTQ+ serving organizations across Illinois (regular updates and communications, needs assessments, referral supports, etc.).
    8. Identify and create regional information hubs.
    9. Ensure organizations are adhering to program guidelines.Performance Measures

  5. Deliverables

    • The Grantee will:
      1. Develop a program action plan, including a grantmaking process to allocate at least $1,000,000 in sub-grants and sub-contracts to organizations across Illinois to expand gender-affirming care to the TGD/LGBTQ+ community, as outlined above. This plan will be approved by IDHS prior to implementation. The grant period will begin 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 five 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. Provide resources and technical assistance to sub-grantees and program participants using experts in the field and an online resource portal.?
      6. Participate in bi-weekly planning meetings with the IDHS TGD/LGBTQ+ team and project manager.?
      7. Create and implement a comprehensive communications plan, to include notification of TGD/LGBTQ+ grant opportunities, documenting and amplifying the various expanded TGD/LGBTQ+ supports across the state, engaging across social media platforms, supporting, and amplifying the communication efforts of TGD Wellness and Equity Program sub-granted organizations.?
      8. Expend program funds under any of the allowable cost categories, including expenses that are reasonable and necessary.?
      9. 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.?
      10. Create an inclusive process to review proposals and recommend sub-grant recipients and sub-contractors.
      11. Report on deliverables and outcomes monthly, in accordance with IDHS reporting requirements.?
      12. Submit data as requested to fulfill IDHS performance requirements.?

  6. Performance Measures

    1. One program action plan will be submitted by day 15 of funding
    2. Sub-recipients be awarded in and across each DHS region
    3. Projected number of regional Healthcare Navigation Specialists: no less than 5
    4. Projected number of partnerships, sub-grants, and sub-contracts: no less than 5
    5. Equitable geographic distribution of partnerships, sub-grants, and sub-contracts
    6. Creation and submission of timely and accurate fiscal reports, including reports of sub-grantees and partners
    7. Regular meetings/updates with DHS TGD Wellness and Equity Program staff and DHS leadership
    8. Regular and active social media engagement across multiple platforms and in partnership with DHS communications

  7. Performance Standards

    1. One program action plan will be approved by DHS day 30 of funding.
    2. There will be at minimum, one subrecipient in each DHS region.
    3. At least 75% of projected sub-grants and sub-contracts should be awarded by October 30, 2023.
    4. Timely and accurate fiscal and program reports
    5. Regular meetings/updates with DHS TGD Wellness and Equity Program staff and leadership
    6. No less than once weekly social media posts on at least two social media platforms

  8. Organizational Requirements

    1. Demonstrated experience working with the transgender, gender-diverse, intersex, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (TGD/LGBTQ) population.
    2. Demonstrated awareness and understanding of the unique health care needs of the TGD/LGBTQ+ population.
    3. History of addressing the unique health care needs of the TGD/LGBTQ+ population.
    4. Demonstrated experience providing quality workforce training and technical assistance.
    5. Strong and successful history of responsible fiscal management and planning.
    6. Awareness and understanding of the unique health disparities affecting the TGD/LGBTQ+ population.
    7. Ability and capacity to adjust services and staffing if/as needed in order to accommodate statewide support.
    8. Current and future key initiatives align with advancing TGD/LGBTQ+ equity.
    9. Operates from a medically competent, culturally competent, equity and racial justice framework.
    10. Has developed or intends to develop a plan for equity and racial justice.
    11. Strong and successful history of developing and maintaining community partnerships and collaboration.
    12. Leadership and staff members reflect the community served (preferred).

B. Funding Information

  1.  Total Amount of Funding

    • The Department anticipates the availability of approximately funding $2,000,000, with at least $1,800,000 to be awarded to subcontractors and/or sub-grantees.
    • The source of funding for this program is State funds.

  2. Number of Grant Awards

    • The Department anticipates funding approximately 1 grant award to provide this program.

  3. Expected Amounts of Individual Grant Award

    • The Department anticipates that grant awards will be $2,000,000.

  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 August 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 an equity lens when implementing policies and practices, and when providing program services, including program evaluations.
    • This competitive funding opportunity is limited to applicants that meet the following requirements:
      • Agency Experience - Applicant should have experience with and understanding of how to address issues appropriately and effectively for the TGD/LGBTQ+ population with a focus on gender-affirming health care for TGD individuals, using a racial equity lens. Applicant should have demonstrated and extensive experience working with sub-grants and sub-contracts. Applicant should have the ability to provide capacity-building expertise to sub-grantee and sub-contractor partner organizations. Applicant should have extensive understanding of and experience working with TGD/LGBTQ communities. Applicant should have a history of effectively addressing the unique health care needs of the TGD/LGBTQ+ population. Applicant should have experience with coalition-building. Applicant should also have training experience, and the ability to provide capacity-building expertise to grantee partner organizations. Applicant should have grantmaking experience, including the ability to award sub-grants and sub-contracts.
      • Sub-contractors and sub-grantees - Sub-contractors and sub-grantees must meet the same eligibility requirements as the successful applicant, although grantmaking experience is not required.
      • Staff Qualifications - Staff assigned to the TGD Wellness and Equity Program should have the appropriate training and capability to coordinate, train, provide and/or coordinate technical assistance to local community groups and organizations. Staff should have existing relationships, or the capacity to build new relationships, with a network of providers serving TGD/LGBTQ+ communities across Illinois. 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. Applicants must be prequalified; therefore, applications from entities that have not prequalified prior to the due date of this application will NOT be reviewed and will NOT be considered for funding. Successful Applicants will not receive an award if pre-award requirements are not met.
      • 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.
      • Funding restrictions-See Section D for funding restriction impacting eligibility or no funding restrictions.

  2. Cost Sharing or Match Requirements

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

  3. Indirect Costs

    • Indirect Cost Requirements and Restrictions:
      • 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.
    • 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 must negotiate an 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. An organization may elect a De Minimis rate of 10% of modified total direct cost (MTDC)**. Once established, the De Minimis rate may be used indefinitely. If programs elect to use the De Minimis rate, it is critical that program budgets accurately calculate the MTDC base. Please see the regulation below and note the exclusions to MTDC.
    • **2 CFR § 200.68 Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC). MTDC means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards and subcontracts under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000. Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.
      • "No Rate": Grantees have 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.
      • Crowe Activity Review System (CARS). CARS will allow your organization to document your already established federally approved indirect cost rate or complete an indirect cost rate proposal (see State Negotiated Rate above). Submission requirements are located on page 2 of the Uniform Budget Template as well as 2 CFR 200 Appendices IV, V & VII.
    • Organizations which have not previously made an indirect cost rate election must submit an election (and Indirect Cost Rate ProposaI, if necessary) immediately and no later than 3 months after receiving an award notification. If the organization elects 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.
    • For more information, see Indirect Cost Rate Process Manual pdf and GATA.Illinois.gov  

  4. Grant Fund Use Requirements

    1. All 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.
      1. Allowable costs are those that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity(ies) 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.
      2. Unallowable costs: Please refer to2 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 DHS:
        1. 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)
        2. Capital expenditures for general purpose equipment, including any vehicle regardless of cost, buildings, and land (2 CFR 200.439)
        3. Capital expenditures for improvements to land, buildings, or equipment which materially increase their value or useful life (2 CFR 200.439)
        4. 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).
        5. Deposits for items, services, or space
      3. Simplified Acquisition Threshold: Potential grantees under this funding announcement may receive an award in excess of the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, currently $250,000 (Use2 CFR 200 Section 200.88 as a reference). Therefore, the grantee must be aware of the following regarding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold as it will be applicable to any qualifying sub award:
        1. That the grantee agency, prior to making a sub award 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 and/or FAPIIS(see 41 U.S.C. 2313);
          1. 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
          2. 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.

  5. Post Award Requirements of Applicant

    • Successful applicants agree to provide program services as described throughout this Funding Notice.
      1. Start Date: Applicants must be in position to begin offering services on September 1, 2023.
      2. 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 DHS web-based reporting system and the receipt/submission of electronic program and fiscal information:
        1. Internet access, preferably high-speed
        2. Email capability
        3. Microsoft Excel
        4. Microsoft Word
        5. 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.
      3. Site Visits: The applicant agrees to participate in site visits/quality reviews as requested by the Department.
      4. COVID Policies and Procedures: Provider organizations 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.
      5. Sectarian Issue: Provider organizations may not expend federal or state funds for sectarian instruction, worship, prayer, or to proselytize. If the Provider organization 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.
      6. 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.
      7. 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.

  6. Other

    • An applicant may only submit one application under this announcement. An organization, individual, or program director may not be named and/or reflected in more than one application.

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 Catalogue of State Financial Assistance and the DHS Grants website page.
    • 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.
    • For paper copies please email dhs.equityracialjustice@illinois.gov.  

  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.

    • Program Narrative

      • IMPORTANT: The program (proposal) narrative makes up the bulk of the 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 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.

    • 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.
      • 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 8 1/2' X 11' paper with Times new Roman 10-point or higher font size.

    • 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.

    • Evaluated Portions of Application:

    • The following sections will be evaluated a panel of reviewers and will be a major, though not the only, criterion of evaluating applications. Below is a brief description of the evaluated portions. In Section E.1 the specific criteria, weights for each, and more detailed descriptions can be found.
    • 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.
    • Program Narrative - (page maximums noted below) - 70 points total
    • Description of Need and Agency's Past Performance (3 pages maximum): 15 Points
    • Describe, in detail, the organization and its understanding of the need for this work. Describe the agency's history of doing this work.
    • Agency Capacity and Scope (5 pages maximum): 30 Points

    • Describe, in detail, the Agency's Capacity to meet the requirements of this program.

      Be sure to include: 

      • Administrative Capacity
      • Agency experience and expertise
      • Key staff and staff qualifications
      • Agency's Use and Maintenance of Data
      • Experience and expertise working with the TGD/LGBTQ+ community.
      • Experience providing gender affirming health care.
      • People-centered, demonstrated understanding of unique needs of TGD/LGBTQ+ community, etc.
      • Provision of medically and culturally informed gender affirming care
      Program Design and Implementation (6 pages maximum): 25 Points
    • Describe the program design and implementation of the program, in detail, including measurable outcomes for:
      • How subs are solicited/identified/selected
      • What expertise do/should subs have for selection
      • Sub-granting and subcontracting
      • Technical assistance and outreach
    • 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 people of color, immigrants, refugees or LEP individuals, and/or TGD/LGBTQ+ individuals. Additionally, consideration will be made for organizations whose leadership reflects the community being served.
    • Budget and Budget Narrative - 15 Points
    • Applicants should provide a budget and a budget narrative for a maximum of $2,000,000 over entire grant period (August 2023 to June 2024). A PDF copy of this 10-month budget should be included in the application as Attachment 5: Applicant Uniform Grant Budget (10-month budget).

    • The budget and budget narrative must tie fiscal activity to program objectives and deliverables and demonstrates that all proposed costs are:

      • Reasonable and necessary
      • Allocable
      • 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 10-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.
    • Applicants should ALSO enter a budget into CSA for FY24 portion of the grant - October 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. (Refer to (c) below if your organization is submitting applications for more than one service area.) Instructions for FY23 and FY24 renewal budgets for successful applicants will be provided at a later date.
    • The FY24 budget for the FY24 grant period October 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. Include a PDF copy of the budget submitted in CSA as Attachment 5a: Applicant Uniform Grant Budget.
    • 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 DHS.
    • 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.

  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 Monday, September 18, 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.equityracialjustice@illinois.gov. The application will be electronically time-stamped upon receipt. The Department will ONLY accept applications submitted by electronic mail sent to dhs.equityracialjustice@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

  6. Funding Restrictions

    • Pre-Award Costs

      • Pre-award costs 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

    • Electronic Submission

      1. Applications must be submitted electronically to dhs.equityracialjustice@illinois.gov.
      2. Documents must not include a password.
      3. Applicants must electronically submit the complete application including all required narratives and attachments in the prescribed order: 
        1. Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance
        2. Executive Summary
        3. Program Narrative 
          1. Description of Need
          2. Agency Capacity and Scope
          3. Program Design and Implementation
        4. Optional Statement of Priority
        5. Budget
        6. Attachments
      4. 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.
      5. ALL Applications MUST include the following mandatory forms/attachments in the order identified in section 2b and the table in section E1.
      6. 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.
      7. Contact dhs.equityracialjustice@illinois.gov in the event of technical difficulties.

E. Application Review Information

Grant applications received will be reviewed by a Merit-Based Review Panel, including staff from the Illinois Department of Human Services..

  1.  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. This email will be sent to the email addresses provided in the application and will identify the reason for disqualification.
    • 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.

    1. Executive Summary - 5 Points

      1. Need for the services
      2. Capacity to provide the services
      3. Approach to addressing major goals of expanding access to gender-affirming care, as outlined above
      4. Organizational experience and expertise in advancing TGD/LGBTQ wellness and equity
      5. Ability to meet specific deliverables for the grant period

    2. Program Narrative

      1. Description of Need and Agency's Past Performance - 15 Points
        1. Describe your Agency's experience with the following:
          1. Experience serving TGD/LGBTQ population
          2. History of collaborating with TGD/LGBTQ service providers, identifying, and addressing TGD/LGBTQ health disparities
        2. Describe your Agency's approach to:
          1. Advancing TGD/LGBTQ health, wellness, and equity
          2. Establishing TGD affirming policies
          3. Prioritizing and maximizing equity and diversity
          4. Understanding and serving TGD/LGBTQ identities
          5. Understanding the need to expand access to gender-affirming health care
        3. Describe your Agency's ability to:
          1. Assess, plan, conduct, and evaluate programs for multiple sub-contractors (provide examples)
          2. Capacity to plan/implement online and in-person services and programming, within COVID- 19 protocols, as appropriate.
      2. Agency Capacity - 30 Points
        • A successful applicant will be able to provide evidence of agency qualifications, experience, and capability to carry out the proposed program.
          1. Describe your agency's capacity to manage multiple sub-grantees and sub-contractors' fiscally statewide
          2. Describe your agency's capacity to coordinate, train, and provide technical assistance on programming, alliance building, and services for the TGD/LGBTQ population, including the TGD/LGBTQ BIPOC community. How will this all be documented and reported?
          3. Name Key Staff and their qualifications for this work, including how staff reflects the diversity of the target population. Attach resumes or job description(s) at the end of the application
          4. Describe your agency's experience and plan to manage the fiscal responsibilities of soliciting and awarding grantees, contractors, or consultants.
      3. Program Design and Implementation - 25 Points
        1. Outline a plan for expanding gender affirming care to the TGD/LGBTQ+ community
        2. Provide a plan to identify a geographically diverse group of sub-grantees and sub-contractors that reflect statewide engagement
        3. Provide an outreach plan which consists of outreach strategies, creative outreach methods and potential community partners
        4. Provide a plan to meet specific deliverables for the grant period
        5. Plan for reporting both quantifiable and qualitative results and reporting those results to DHS

    3. 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 TGD/LGBTQ individuals. Additionally, consideration will be made for organizations whose leadership reflects the community being served.

    4. Budget - 15 Points

      1. Thorough and clear justification for all proposed line-item expenditures.
      2. All expenditures and program costs are reasonable and allowable.
      3. Proposed staffing is sufficient to address project operational needs.

  2. Review and Selection Process

    • The process for evaluation of the application is as follows: Department of Human Services staff and potentially by additional external qualified reviewers.  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: dhs.equityracialjustice@illinois.gov 
      • Name of Agency contact for appeals: Caronina Grimble
      • Email of Agency contact for appeals: Caronina.Grimble@Illinois.gov
      • Email Subject Line: TGD Wellness and Equity - [Your Agency Name]

      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, if applicable

  • Please submit other documents, if applicable

I. Mandatory Forms