1.01Introduction and Program Description

The Department of Health (DOH or Department), Division of Public Health seek- proposals from eligible applicants to provide Public Health Nursing services for the State of Alaska in FY2026 through FY2028.

Program Services are authorized under 7 AAC 78 Grant Programs, Public Health Nursing Services (AS 18.05.010(a),(b)(1)(3)(4)(6)(9)), defined according to the Section of Public Health Nursing Practice Guidelines; the Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing Practice; and the Core Competencies for Public Health. Access State of Alaska statutes and regulations at Department of Law Document Library or through the contact person identified on the cover page of this Competitive Request for Proposal (RFP).

Grant funds are intended to partially support local population-based public health nursing services delivered by public health nursing staff to all residents who live within the service area detailed in subsection 1.05.

1.02Program Goals and Anticipated Outcomes

The proposed project must demonstrate a thorough understanding and support of the grant program goals and outcomes as described in this RFP and demonstrate success in enhancing the health of the population in the catchment area by focusing on the initiatives that improve health equity and overall health outcomes. Initiatives should address community health needs that have a primary prevention focus. The program aims to improve population health, address health inequities, and enhance community resilience through evidence-based public health nursing practices.

Services are provided at all levels of population-based practice, with a broad range of responsibilities for population-based services for individuals/families, communities and systems. Alaska’s Public Health Nurses blend knowledge, skills and abilities from nursing and public health sciences to promote and preserve the health of Alaskans. Statewide public health nursing works in partnership with individuals, communities, groups, organizations and systems on the core functions (community assessment, policy development and assurance) and 10 essential services to assess, plan, implement and evaluate public health nursing interventions, programs and projects.

The proposed project must provide quarterly reports related to community engagement and demonstrate impact in key program priority areas:

• Reduction of Vaccine Preventable Diseases;
• Improvement in the Health of Children;
• Prevent and Respond to Tuberculosis and other Infectious Diseases;
• Reduction in Sexually Transmitted Infections;
• Improvement in Community Mental Health and Wellbeing

1.03Program Services/Activities

Applicants agree to comply with all the following program requirements and service standards with alignment to the Section of Public Health Nursing (SOPHN) Strategic Plan (see attachment). The grantees must partner with Alaskans to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of communities. Grantees are expected to provide a minimum set of safety-net clinical services, as well as work collaboratively with community to improve population health, based on a comprehensive and ongoing community health assessment process.

1. Community Health Assessment: Provide leadership in the development of a comprehensive community health assessment in collaboration with local key stakeholders, in the first year of the grant, and subsequently at least once every 3 years.
   1. The community health assessment is developed and re-assessed in demonstrated partnership with community.
   2. The community health assessment must include consideration of the determinants of health.
   3. The community health assessment must include a prioritized list of issues that need to be addressed to improve population health in the catchment area.
   4. The community health assessment must identify specific populations experiencing vulnerabilities and disparities in health outcomes.
2. Community Health Improvement Planning and Implementation: In partnership with key stakeholders, develop a community health improvement plan from the assessment to address a minimum of 3 community health issues.
   1. The community health issues prioritized for work in the improvement plan must demonstrate alignment with the Section of Public Health Nursing’s strategic plan and Healthy Alaskans 2030.
   2. The grantee must actively participate in the ongoing development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the activities in the community health improvement plan in alignment with the ANA Public Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice.
   3. Prioritize health improvement efforts for populations experiencing health disparities and vulnerabilities.
3. Public health emergency preparedness: The Grantee agrees to provide services that comply with national deliverables defined by the SOPHN. These include, but are not limited to:
   1. Lead or support mobilization of local organizations to develop mass medical countermeasures as defined in the Centers for Disease Control Public Health Preparedness Capabilities National Standards for State and Local Planning Manual.
      • PHN also serves as the lead or support for local Point of Dispensing (POD) exercises and the responsibilities of PHN are identified in POD plan.
   2. Grantee must develop Continuity of Operations plan that aligns with Section of Public Health Nursing if needs outweigh capacity to respond in the event of emergency or other limitations on capacity.
4. Safety Net Clinical Services: Safety net services are targeted to reach those who experience vulnerability and difficulty accessing services whether due to insurance status, age, income level, physical location, health literacy, or other health-related needs. The grantee agrees to provide clinical services regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Service delivery is not confined to the clinic and will be offered in the field (e.g. homes, shelters, mobile treatment centers, faith-based settings, etc.) as appropriate for the population and service type. Relevant clinical data trends will be analyzed to inform future clinical services, as well as to identify community and systems-level interventions (following all Federal and State laws, including HIPAA and Privacy Rule). The grantee agrees to provide the following minimum services:
   1. Offer all AVAP required vaccines for adults and children.
   2. Grantee agrees to enroll with AVAP using an “Opt-In” agreement
   3. Sexually transmitted infection prevention and control
   4. Communicable disease prevention and control. This activity includes individual case investigation, source investigation, case management, and contact tracing as appropriate to the communicable disease
   5. The Grantee agrees to, after the State Epidemiologist determines that an outbreak of a communicable disease, or an issue of public health importance has is or is about to occur, fully assist in the investigation, control and recovery of the disease/issue as recommended by the state Epidemiologist. The Grantee agrees to operate as the local liaison, which includes being the lead public health investigator for the catchment area and lead for community-based interventions to mitigate transmission.
   6. Tuberculosis prevention and control as evidenced by capacity to deliver or supervise Direct Observed Therapy (DOT) and case manage Latent and Active Tuberculosis (TB) clients within the designated catchment area
   7. Family planning education and services
   8. Well Child/Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic Treatment (EPSDT) screenings (to include formal Developmental Screenings and lead screening) in alignment with the national Bright Futures Guidelines and periodicity schedule for children 0-6 years of age.
   9. School health consultation, immunization support, hearing and vision screens if no school nurse is available in the catchment area
   10. Prenatal education and referral
   11. Health promotion education
   12. Chronic disease prevention through screening, education, and referral
   13. Injury prevention through education and referral, as appropriate

Applicants must upload a timeline for the initiation of services and project activities.

Applicant proposals must describe proposed project activities to be employed in support of the program goals and outcomes and the ways in which the project aligns with program intent.

1.04Program Evaluation Requirements and Reporting

Budget and Deliverables

All resources outlined in the proposed budget must be directly connected to and justified by the deliverables specified in the proposal. Applicants should clearly explain how each budget item supports the achievement of these deliverables.

Performance Measures and Data Collection

Projects must implement performance measures to evaluate progress toward meaningful outcomes and initiate data collection and reporting in alignment with the guidelines of this solicitation.

Alignment with Department and Division Priorities

The priorities outlined in this solicitation are designed to support the overarching goals of the Department and Division.

Department Arcs of Effort

• Strengthening the Behavioral Health System
• Suicide and Overdose Prevention
• Transformation of Care
• Child Care

Division Core Functions

• Strategize for existing and emerging public health issues.
• Protect life, health, and safety of Alaskans while preventing injury and chronic disease.
• Serve as a trusted source of public health information.
• Strengthen essential public health partnerships, services, and infrastructure.

Applicant Requirements

Applicants must ensure that their action and evaluation plans incorporate performance measures emphasizing effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment of resources. Applicants may propose additional measures to assess progress toward outcomes aligned with program goals. Each application must include:

Evaluation Plan: A detailed description of how the applicant will monitor and evaluate the grant program's progress, including:

• Methods for monitoring, documenting, and evaluating the overall success of the grant project.
• Processes for monitoring, documenting, and evaluating the delivery of all 1.03 Program Services/Activities aligning with the strategic plan priorities.

Action Plan: Applicants should create Action Plans for each Strategic Plan priority, as well as for effectiveness and efficiency measures; Action Plans must include:

• SMART Goals and Action Steps consisting of what each strategic priority is and how it will be implemented
• Person Responsible
• Timeline for Completion
• Metric of Success - How will the grantee know the action plan has been achieved? 

(See Attachments 1 & 2)

The plan must also include:

• Signed MOAs (Memorandums of Agreement) and BAAs (Business Associate Agreements) that are needed to execute the plan
• An organizational chart of staff funded by this grant, along with resumes or CVs for key personnel. Quality Improvement Plan Applicants must submit a Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) or a detailed draft if a formal plan is not in place. The QIP must demonstrate how quality assurance and improvement principles will be embedded into daily practices and processes.

Applicants agree to:

• Implement an internal Quality Improvement Plan.
• Provide a 3x3 table deliverable detailing the population-based approach used to address public health issues

(See Attachment 4)

Grant Reporting Requirements

Fiscal Reporting

Quarterly Cumulative Fiscal Reports documenting grant and match expenditures by budget line.

Program Reporting

Quarterly and Annual Program Reports (subject to change in response to emerging public health issues), including:

• Individual-Level Outputs and any changes to services provided or available
• Community/System-Level Outputs and planned community and systems level activities
• Community Assessment and Health Improvement Process

Reports must be submitted following the timeline and format prescribed by the grantor. Examples of required reports are included in the attachments.

(See Attachments 4, 5, 6, and 7)

1.05Target Population and Service Area

Applicants must clearly describe the population targeted by the project, including the area or communities that will be served. Proposals will be evaluated for compatibility with the program's intended target population and areas to be served as identified in this solicitation.

Target Population: The target population is the entire catchment area with emphasis on the medically underserved, vulnerable, marginalized, and/or at-risk populations and subgroups.

Service Areas and Communities: The service areas and communities requested for the services solicited are specific to each eligible proposer as follows:

• Municipality of Anchorage service area includes the City of Anchorage, Girdwood, Bird Creek, Birchwood, Peters Creek, Eklutna, Rainbow, Indian, Chugiak, and Eagle River.

1.06Program Funding

Funds available for this program are anticipated to total $9,230,700 for the three-year duration ($3,076,900.00 per year). Proposal priced at more than 3,076,900.00 will be considered non-responsive.

Source of Funds: Grant Funds from DOH for this program must be used for grant implementation prior to any other grant funds secured for grant implementation. Payment for service should be used in conjunction with grant funds from DOH.

Proposed Budget: The applicant must submit a budget proposal for the first fiscal year of the project. The proposed budget detail and narrative will support the program’s results-based service delivery and staffing requirements stated in this RFP. Budget should include anticipated contracts and/or sub-awards to partners.

The proposed budget will be fully compliant with the limitations described in this -RFP, and those detailed in 7 AAC 78.160 (Costs). Regulations are provided under the GEMS Documents tab.

Resources specific to budgeting are also available under the GEMS Documents tab. DOH Grant Budget Preparation Guidelines provide information and guidance about budget lines, cost detail groupings, and narrative requirements. Grantee User Manual Part I provides detailed instructions for entering a budget proposal in the chapter "Responding to a Solicitation."

Other Agency Funding: Prior to submitting a proposal, applicants are required to list all other agency funding received and applied for. This task must be completed by an Agency Power User in the Other Funding section of the Agency Administration tab. This is part of the pre-award risk assessment required under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

Indirect Costs: If the proposed budget includes indirect costs, 7 AAC 78.160(p) requires a copy of the agency’s current federally approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. The agreement is to be uploaded in the Agency Administration tab. Lapsed agreements can be used if uploaded with the negotiating federal agency’s written approval to continue using the rate until a new agreement is negotiated.

Payment for Services/Grant Income: If applicable to the services proposed in response to this solicitation, awarded grantees will have a Medicaid Provider Number or apply to obtain one, and will make reasonable effort to bill all eligible services to Medicaid and any other available sources of payment before seeking grant support for delivery of the proposed services.

In the applicant’s proposed budget, anticipated receipts and expenditures for all grant income must be evident in the detail and narrative. Fiscal reports for awarded income generating projects will include the receipts and expenditure of all grant income.

2.01Agency Experience

Proposal evaluation will include consideration of the applicant’s history of compliance with service and grant requirements, and previous experience in providing the same or similar services. Evaluation may include Department site reviews, program audits, and confirmation of the successful resolution of any findings. This is part of the pre-award risk assessment required under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

The applicant must:

1. Provide a brief overview of the history and structure of your organization.
2. Describe how this proposal will fit into the organization’s overall mission and meet the intent of this RFP. 
3. Describe previous experience providing same or similar services to those being proposed. The description must clearly identify the time period over which services were provided and the target population that was served.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of the community/area(s) to be served, including any emerging trends, population needs and service gaps. Provide most recent Community Health Assessment. Describe your organization’s role in and contributions to the community health assessment process and the key stakeholders actively involved in the process. Provide Letters of Support for community partners.
5. Explain your organization’s history of collaboration and support of health and wellness community work and systems development in the proposed catchment area.
6. Describe your organization’s demonstrated ability to provide culturally competent, family centered, multidisciplinary, holistic, and accessible care to meet the needs of catchment area residents in and outside clinic walls.

2.02Project Staffing

Project staffing must be sufficient to implement the proposed activities, adequate to meet program goals and robust enough to provide the anticipated outcomes. Staff salary allocated to this grant must be approved by Program Manager. Public Health Nurses covered under this grant must be Registered Nurses (RNs) holding at least a bachelor’s in nursing and align with State of Alaska Job Class Public Health Nurse 1-5.

Resumes, position descriptions, and professional credentials including RN license verifications for key project personnel must be uploaded as part of the response and throughout the life of the grant as staffing changes. This is part of the pre-award risk assessment required under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

Applicants must provide a detailed plan demonstrating sufficient experienced staff, or the ability to hire qualified personnel, to execute the proposed plan of service delivery in the proposed service area and comply with the following practice guidelines, personnel, and training requirements:

Practice Guidelines and Personnel Requirements

1. The Grantee agrees to hire appropriate staff to provide services. This includes ensuring sufficient personnel are in place to meet the demands of public health nursing and other associated roles critical to the delivery of grant services. The Grantee will submit to the Program Officer a list of “key personnel” who will have managerial, supervisory, and other essential responsibilities in delivering grant services.
2. The Grantee will submit job descriptions for all managerial, supervisory, and operational staff, ensuring compliance with applicable standards, such as the ANA Scope and Standards of Nurse Administrators, ANA Scope and Standards of Public Health Nursing, and Public Health Nursing Core Competencies, as appropriate. Resumes and qualifications must be submitted for all staff funded by the grant, with documentation of current RN licensure provided for PHNs working in the catchment area.
3. The Grantee will immediately notify the Program Officer in writing of any changes in key personnel. The Grantee must ensure adequate staffing, including PHNs, support personnel, and travel resources for itinerant staff, to provide services across all communities within the service area. Additionally, the Grantee is responsible for employing and allocating personnel as necessary to deliver a full scope of public health nursing and ancillary support services, ensuring adequate response capacity within 24 hours for public health emergencies.

Training Requirements

1. The Grantee agrees to ensure a competent workforce by maintaining the capacity to deliver the full scope of public health nursing and related services within the catchment area. This includes personnel equipped to address both routine and emergent public health needs.
2. The Grantee will coordinate the attendance of the PHN Director or their designee at monthly SOPHN teleconferences, face-to-face SOPHN Manager Meetings, and ensure all PHNs and relevant personnel attend statewide PHN trainings and appropriate academies. It is strongly recommended that the PHN Director and selected staff attend the annual Alaska Health Summit.
3. The Grantee will coordinate, track, and report that all personnel receive a formal and comprehensive orientation and follow all current standard operating procedures (e.g., medical directives, standing orders, policies, and procedures) defining public health practice expectations.
4. The Grantee will ensure that all staff, including PHNs, have access to and are evaluated against their proficiency in relevant standards, such as the ANA Public Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals.
5. The Grantee is encouraged to support workforce development, the Grantee will facilitate public health clinical placements for community health/public health nursing students, MPH students, and other related disciplines on an annual basis. These placements will provide practical experience and strengthen the pipeline for future workforce needs.

Maintenance and Updates

1. The Grantee agrees to develop, adopt, and implement standard operating procedures and medical directives that align with the guidelines and practices established by the Section of Public Health Nursing.
2. The Grantee shall ensure these documents are readily available to the Program Manager for review and oversight purposes. Proposal will include how this will be accomplished.

2.03Administrative, Management, and Facility Requirements

The applicant must demonstrate the agency's sustainable fiscal and administrative capacity. Executive, administrative, and financial staff must be qualified, as indicated by the resumes of position holders uploaded as an element of the proposal. This is part of the pre-award risk assessment required under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

1. The applicant must ensure procedures are in place to protect client confidentiality compliant with State and federal standards, i.e. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
2. The applicant will ensure its most recent financial audit was submitted to the appropriate state office (see Audit Requirements below) and any findings identified have been resolved.
3. The applicant will ensure policies and procedures are in place to meet state and federal requirements. These include but are not limited to those listed below. For each item describe specific policies and procedures that ensure compliance with the requirements listed in this section. Applicant may submit Policies and Procedures that demonstrate existing compliance, draft Policies and Procedures that amend existing or create Policies and Procedures or describe proposed practices in detail. Final Draft Policies and Procedures must be in place when program begins.

Confidentiality

The Grantee agrees to establish procedures to guarantee that all protected health information obtained by Grantee personnel during the delivery of these grant services will be treated according to federal and agency HIPAA requirements as confidential and privileged communications. It is understood by the parties that the confidentiality procedures required by this paragraph do not apply to the anonymous disclosure of statistical summary information, the reports mandated by the grant, or other reports mandated by law. The Grantee will fully comply with AS 25.20.010 and AS 25.20.025 regarding the delivery of services to minors related to family planning/reproductive health/STI care.

Notifiable Disease Reports

The Grantee agrees to report all diseases of public health importance to the DOH, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology, as required by 7 AAC 27.005. The Grantee will use the Rapid Telephonic Reporting System procedures.

OSHA/CLIA 

The Grantee agrees to comply with OSHA/CLIA regulations relevant to the delivery of public health nursing services, as well as United States Regulations for packaging and shipping per Health and Human Services 49 CFR 73 and Department of Transportation 49 CFR 171-180.

Patient Records

The Grantee agrees to preserve all patient records and provide DOH with access to records, notes, reports and other written or recorded documents which relate directly to the care and treatment of an individual under these grant services for a period of at least seven (7) years following the discharge of the patient. In the case of a minor patient, the records will be preserved until the child reaches the age of 21, then retained an additional seven (7) years for a total retention until age 28. In case of death prior to age 22, records should be kept seven (7) years after the date of death. Files that have met their office retention must be disposed via shredding or a confidential burn.

Fee for Service and Financial barrier

The Grantee agrees to apply a fee for service as required by 7 AAC 80.030. The Grantee shall post a sign as described in 7 AAC 80.010 (k) informing the public that no one, at any time, will be denied any services (preventative, follow-up, acute, etc.) because of an inability to pay. The Grantee will adopt a Sliding Fee Discount Process that slides all clinic charges for all services to $0. The fees collected by the Grantee are grant income under 7 AAC 78.210 and may be used by the Grantee to pay only those costs allowed under 7AAC 78 and are subject to audit requirements set out at 2 AAC 45.010 and 7 AAC 78.230. A waiver must be submitted for approval if fees differ from 7 AAC 80.030. The Grantee agrees to not block or prevent clients from any current or future services if client is unable to pay the bill or has any previous outstanding balances, is late for appointments, or fails to call ahead to reschedule. The Grantee agrees to not send any clients to collections or send out bills for PHN services, specifically to a teen to their home, or to a person regarding an STI visit which could potentially risk violations in confidentiality as outlined in AS 25.20.010 and AS 25.20.025. The grantee agrees to provide a full accounting, as part of their annual financial audit, of fees collected on behalf of the grant program. The Grantee agrees to provide monthly budget report demonstrating compliance with PHN fee process for PHN clients as evidenced by number of clients seeking PHN services who slide to zero on sliding fee schedule; percent of clients seen within each poverty level; number of PHN client’s uninsured; number of PHN clients with private insurance; number of PHN clients with Medicaid (see Attachments G6, G7, and G8 for reporting requirements).

Scheduling

The Grantee agrees to create Same Day Appointments to assure high risk clients can access all services and will not require clients to become established patients prior to delivering all public health nursing services. The Grantee agrees to provide services at times and places convenient for those served, prompt intake and engagement in services for high-risk clients and full access to all services regardless of ability to pay, prior missed or late appointments, previous outstanding balances, place of residence, or official identification.

Medical Directives

The Grantee agrees to align all public health nursing services to comply with the State of Alaska Nurse Practice Act. Medical directives must be signed by the Grantee’s medical director, updated every year, in compliance with the RN Scope of Practice, as defined by the Alaska Nurse Practice Act.

Awarded proposers will be required to submit additional agency information if the agency GEMS record is not current.

Audit Requirements:

Federal Requirements: Agencies spending $1,000,000 or more total Federal Financial Assistance in the agency fiscal year may be required to comply with conditions of the Single Audit Act of 1984, P.L. 98-502, as amended by the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996, P.L. 104-156, and as defined in 2 CFR 200.

State Requirements: Agencies spending $750,000 or more total State Financial Assistance in the agency fiscal year are required to comply with the conditions of 2 AAC 45.010-090. The current regulations may be viewed at the State of Alaska, Department of Law website, Department of Law Document Library, or copies may be obtained from the contact identified on the cover page of the -RFP.

Information on State and Federal Single Audit Acts compliance may be obtained from:

State Single Audit Coordinator

Department of Administration Division of Finance

PO Box 110204

Juneau, AK 99811-0204

Telephone: (907) 465-4666

Fax: (907) 465-2169

DOH Program Audit Requirements: All DOH grantees are subject to the requirements of 7 AAC 78.230. If awarded, agencies which are not required to file State Single Audits under 2 AAC 45.010 must ensure a fiscal audit of the agency operations under the grant program is performed by an independent, licensed, certified public accountant at least once every two years and submitted to:

State of Alaska Department of Health

Finance and Management Services

Audit Section

PO Box 110602

Juneau, AK 99811-0602

Telephone: (907) 465-3120

Facility, Service Access, and Safety:

1. The applicant must describe the facility planned to be used, number of clinic rooms, office space, vaccine storage and temperature monitoring defined by the Alaska Immunization Program, storage space for itinerant and preparedness supplies, existing use, whether the organization has current site control (ownership, lease) and if not, a plan to acquire it. There must also be a detailed description of any alterations/renovations planned. Applicant should include any available conference room space for community work and use by partners.
2. The applicant must address potential safety concerns for clients and staff in the management of services proposed in response to this RFP.
3. The applicant should describe client accessibility to services and the way in which that will enhance project success.
4. All applicants for DOH grants should have a written plan for emergency response and recovery that provides for potential safety concerns and the safe evacuation of clients and staff. This plan is mandatory for agencies providing residential and/or critical care services as noted in the State Grant Assurances.

2.04Support/Coordination of Services

Applicants must demonstrate the proposed project has the necessary support and coordination for the successful delivery of services. The proposal must address the following:

1. Letter of support from organization’s Board of Directors that includes specifics regarding programmatic and fiscal requirements of the grant;
2. Community support where services are being proposed demonstrated by:
   1. Letters of support (LOS) from local primary care providers
   2. LOS from each local hospital, including the relationship with the infection control team
   3. LOS from each school district superintendent
   4. LOS from each Local Emergency Planning Committee within the catchment area;
3. Community partnerships, currently in place by the local Public Health Center, where services are being proposed demonstrated through a minimum of three letters of support from local coalitions and social service providers;
4. List of necessary referral agencies and a description of their roles;
5. Copy of agency’s Alaska Vaccine Assessment Program (AVAP) Opt In enrollment.

3.01Eligibility

Recipients of this RFP are eligible to apply. Grants and Contracts will confirm eligibility status prior to issuing an award.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA): In accordance with 2 CFR Chapter 1, Part 170 Reporting Sub- Award and Executive Compensation Information, reporting is required of any grant award with federal funding equal to or greater than $25,000. FFATA is intended to hold the federal government accountable for spending decisions. Accountability data is available to the public at U.S. Government spending. Reporting requirements extend to recipients of State-issued awards with federal funds. An Agency Power User must complete the FFATA form under Federal Reporting in the GEMS Agency Administration tab. The report data will reflect the audited figures of the agency’s most recently completed fiscal year. The report captures expenses and executive compensation for your agency. More information regarding FFATA requirements can be found at Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act Subaward Reporting System.

All grantees receiving awards with federal funds are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. A DUNS number can be secured at no charge at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. An Agency Power User must add the agency DUNS number in the General section of the Agency Administration tab.

The US Federal Government is transitioning from the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to a System for Award Management System for Award Management (SAM) generated Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) alpha-numeric value for federal awards management. During this transition the DUNS number will be phased out and all grantees receiving awards with federal funds will be required to have a UEI. More information regarding this transition can be found on the U.S. General Services Administration webpage at U.S General Services Administration.

The Grants Electronic Management System (GEMS) has been updated to include fields for both the DUNS nine-digit number and the UEI twelve-digit alpha-numeric value under the General section of the Agency Administration tab. An Agency Power User must confirm the current DUNS number is listed in GEMS and is responsible for adding the UEI once one has been assigned. The DUNS number will continue to be displayed in GEMS until the Federal Government's transition to the UEI is complete.

Applicant agency GEMS records must contain the agency’s current State of Alaska Business License number, and a current governing board roster which includes titles, contact information, and terms of office for each seat. The roster must include emergency contact information outside the applicant agency for one or more officers.

Grants and Contracts will verify neither the applicant agency nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from receiving grant assistance from any State or federal department or agency. If an agency or its principals are excluded from receiving grant assistance, the proposal may not be considered.

3.02Acceptance of Terms

By submitting a proposal, an applicant accepts all terms and conditions of this RFP including all identified attachments and guidelines, 7 AAC 78, and any other applicable statutes and regulations. Copies of these may be obtained through the contact person identified on the cover page or through the web address(es) identified in this RFP.

If a grant is awarded, this RFP and the applicant’s proposal become part of the grant agreement. The applicant will be bound by the provisions contained in the awarded proposal unless the Department agrees that specific parts of the proposal are not part of the agreement.

Proposals and other materials submitted in response to this RFP become the property of the State and may be returned only if the State allows. Proposals are public documents and may be inspected or copied by anyone after grants have been awarded.

3.03Inquiries

Applicants should immediately review this RFP for defects and questionable or confusing content. Questions that can be answered by directing the applicant to a specific section in the RFP may be answered verbally by the contact person identified on the RFP cover page. Questions that cannot be answered by directing an applicant to a specific section of the RFP may be declared substantive. The applicant will be directed to submit the question in writing to the contact person at the email address on the cover page no fewer than 10 days before the deadline for receipt of proposals. This will allow issuance of any necessary amendments and/or clarifications to all prospective applicants.

Applicants are responsible for monitoring GEMS or the State’s Online Public Notices website (Online Public Notices) for any clarifications or amendments that may be issued regarding this solicitation.

Proposals will not be accepted after 3:59 PM prevailing local time on the due date identified on the cover page.

3.04Proposal Costs and Content

The Department will not be responsible for any expenses incurred by the applicant prior to the authorized grant performance period. All costs of responding to this RFP are the responsibility of the applicant.

The applicant is responsible for the content of the proposal.

3.05Duration

This RFP is for a three-year period, July 01, 2025 through June 30, 2028. At the discretion of the Department, a project funded under this RFP may be considered for continued funding in subsequent program years. The annual decision to continue funding for the subsequent years of the three-year grant cycle is based on the following general conditions:

1. The Department’s judgment that there is a continued need for the grant project service;
2. The grantee’s satisfactory performance during the previous grant year;
3. The availability of sufficient grant program funds, and whether continuation of the financing is consistent with public health and welfare;
4. The ability of the grantee and the Department to agree on any adjustments in payments or service.

Applicants will submit a budget proposal for year one of the grant only, July 01, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Funding in each subsequent year will require submission and approval of documents needed to update service plans, evaluation measures and budgets. Grants and Contracts will notify grantees of specific submission requirements necessary to qualify for consideration of continued funding.

3.06Proposal Review

Following the deadline for receipt of proposals, no revisions will be accepted unless provided in response to a request from the contact person named in this NC-RFP. Proposals will be reviewed as follows:

1. Proposals will be evaluated in a manner that will avoid disclosure of contents before notices of grant award have been issued.
2. DOH staff will evaluate each proposal for minimum responsiveness and other technical requirements and eliminate nonresponsive proposals from consideration.
3. Using the criteria set out in this -RFP and 7 AAC 78.100 (Criteria for Review of Proposals), DOH staff will evaluate each responsive proposal based on the applicant's response to each individual question and associated criteria. DOH staff will also review relevant departmental documentation regarding the applicant. Staff recommendations regarding awards and levels of funding, will include consideration of the following:
   1. A history of the applicant’s compliance with grant requirements, to include records of program performance, on-site program reviews, and prior year audits;
   2. Priorities in applicable State health and social services plans;
   3. Requirements of applicable State and federal statutes;
   4. Municipal ordinances or regulations applicable to the grant program.

All staff advisory recommendations and all review materials will be submitted for consideration by the Division Director, who will make recommendations to the Commissioner of the Department of Health or the Commissioner’s designee.

3.07Final Decision Authority

Recommendations are advisory only. The final decision to approve or disapprove award, the amount of each award, and whether to impose special conditions or modifications rests with the Commissioner or Commissioner’s designee. NOTE: The final decision may include additional considerations, such as a lack or duplication of services in certain locations, or alternative services that may be available; a critical need for services by vulnerable populations and matters of health, life and safety. The Department has the responsibility to ensure public monies are utilized in a manner that protects the interests of the people of the State and retains the right to make final awards that ensure responsible distribution of grant funds.

3.08Notification of Grant Award and Appeals

Within fifteen (15) days after the decision regarding grant awards, the applicant will be notified of the final funding decisions, and, if awarded, any conditions of award or modifications. Following any necessary negotiations for revisions to the proposed budget and scope of services, successful applicants will be issued a grant agreement. This formal agreement will contain specific performance and reporting requirements consistent with Department policy and procedure and 7 AAC 78.

Per 7 AAC 78.305 (Request for Appeal), an applicant may appeal a final grant award decision. Requests for hearing must be addressed to the Commissioner, and received in writing at the address below, within 15 days after the applicant receives notification of the decision. The request must contain the reasons for the appeal and must cite the law, regulation, or terms of the grant upon which the appeal is based.

With a copy to the contact identified on the solicitation cover page, send appeal to:

Heidi Hedberg

Commissioner

Department of Health

3601 C Street, Suite 902 Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5923

3.09Cancellation of the RFP/Termination of Award

Contingent upon funding appropriations and the Governor’s approval, the Department may fund proposals from eligible applicants. DOH may withdraw this RFP at any time and reserves the right to refrain from making an award when such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the State. Funds awarded for a grant as a result of this RFP may be withheld and the grant terminated by written notice from the State to the grantee at any time for violation by the grantee of any terms or conditions of the grant award, or when such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the State.

4.01Minimum Responsiveness Criterion per 78.100(2)(A)

Proposals that fail to meet the minimum responsiveness requirements below will be eliminated from consideration per 7 AAC 78.090(b)(2).

4.02Other Technical Requirements per 7 AAC 78.060, 78.090(b) and 78.100

Response & Organizational Documentation

4.03History of Compliance with Grant Requirements per 7 AAC 78.100(2)(B)

4.04Questions and Criteria Related to Program Policy, Goals, Outcomes, and Activities

4.05Applicant Qualifications - Criteria Relating to Personnel, Management, and Facilities

4.06Demonstration of Support/Coordination of Service