1.01Introduction and Program Description

The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS or Department), Division of Behavioral Health (DBH), is requesting proposals from eligible applicants to provide Mobile Outreach services for the State of Alaska in a partial year FY2023. Program Services are authorized under 7 AAC 78 Grant Programs. Additional governing statutes are AS 47.30.520-620 Community Mental Health Services Act, 7 AAC 70 Behavioral Health Services, 7 AAC 135 Medicaid Coverage for Behavioral Health Services, AS 47.37 Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act, AS 47.30.655-.915 Alaska Civil Commitment Statutes, 7 AAC 70 Behavioral Health Services, 7 AAC 135 Medicaid Coverage Behavioral Health Services, 7 AAC 138 115 Substance Use Disorder Waiver Services, 7 AAC 139 1115 Behavioral Health Waiver Services, and 7 AAC 160 Medicaid Program: General Provisions. State of Alaska statutes and regulations are accessible at the Department of Law Document Library or through the contact person identified on the cover page of this Request for Proposals (RFP).

In the proposed State Fiscal Year 2023 budget the Department of Health and Social Services will be reorganized into two distinct executive branch Departments: the Department of Health and the Department of Family and Community Services. This re-organization will be effective July 1, 2022 which is the first day of State Fiscal Year 2023. 

The Division of Behavioral Health recognizes the need to support agencies in the early development of standing up mobile crisis outreach response services particularly in small communities. Many of the larger hub communities have funding mechanisms and resources in place to support the development of services along the crisis services continuum, however smaller communities require resources in the purchasing of vehicles, telehealth, and other equipment to develop mobile crisis outreach response services.  This request for proposal is for up to two grant awards that will fund mobile crisis outreach projects statewide with a service location in an area with a population of less than 30,000 as defined solely by the 2021 Population Estimates by borough, Census Area and Economic Region listed at the Department of Labor Workforce Development website.

Currently psychiatric emergencies are responded to by roughly 33 providers across the State who receive grant funding to work in tandem with local hospitals, law enforcement, and court systems to address the behavioral health crises. These providers report they are often understaffed, and their services are utilized heavily within their respective communities. The collaboration between the hospitals, law enforcement, and court system is sometimes strained due to staff turnover, workforce shortages, and limited knowledge about local and statewide resources.  With the implementation of the 1115 Medicaid Waiver Demonstration project, crisis stabilization services were added to the Behavioral Health Continuum services including mobile crisis outreach. It is essential that mobile crisis outreach programs work with local law enforcement, first responders, and psychiatric emergency service providers as well as other community behavioral health providers. 

Mobile Crisis Outreach Response services are essential to the crisis continuum in mitigating the severity and escalation of behavioral health related crises. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals are experiencing more behavioral health related conditions to varying degrees, some of which require crisis intervention. Deploying crisis mobile outreach response teams replaces the over reliance of emergency departments and higher acute psychiatric settings in a system where there is already significant strain on capacity due to COVID.  Behavioral health crises can be responded to appropriately and at times more effectively by professionals on a mobile crisis response team than in other medical settings. The goal is for the team to stabilize the crisis and to link the individual to the appropriate level of care including outpatient services for continued support and treatment if indicated. 

1.02Program Goals and Anticipated Outcomes

The proposed project must demonstrate a thorough understanding and support of the grant program goals and outcomes anticipated by the Department.

The goal of mobile crisis response is to provide triage/screening, including explicit screening for suicidality; assessment, de-escalation/resolution including a warm hand off if needed to facility-based care. Anticipated outcomes include diversion from unnecessary law enforcement involvement, emergency department use and hospitalization, increased linkage to outpatient services, and crisis planning and follow up to prevent future crisis situations.

Projects must meet or exceed anticipated minimum outcomes described in this RFP.

1.03Program Services/Activities

Applicants must describe the proposed activities that support the goals and anticipated outcomes to be employed in the project. Review DHSS grant regulation 7 AAC 78.160. for allowable costs and restrictions. 

Applicants must submit a description of staffing patterns that include identification of the credentials of staff responsible for/overseeing and providing the MOCR. Staffing patterns and credentials must meet the requirements in the Alaska Administrative Services Standards Manual (Attachments #1 and #2).

Applicants must identify and describe their mobile response program team type as either: 1.) Urban or 2.) Rural and Frontier.

Programs will be available 24/7, make available psychiatric consultation, and provide rapid face-to-face response as follows: 

1. Urban teams on average must respond to client within an hour.
2. Rural and Frontier teams are not required to respond within an hour but must document efforts taken with respect to a rapid face to face response.

Proposals must include a description of how the following programs and services will be provided within the mobile outreach crisis response program:

• Triage and assessment services
• Crisis assessment including causes leading to the crisis, safety and risk considerations, recent behavioral health treatment, medications, and medical issues. Includes specific screening for suicide
• Crisis intervention and stabilization services including de-escalation, crisis planning such as the creation of a safety plan
• Referral and linkage with appropriate community services and resources, including law enforcement and first responders
• Linkage to medication services as needed through collaboration with qualified providers
• Mediation services as appropriate 
• Skills training designed to minimize future crisis situations
• The crisis mobile team has training in trauma informed care, de-escalation & in harm reduction strategies, including opioid overdose response. MOCR must be equipped with naloxone.
• Provide follow up with a client after a response within 48 hours to ensure support, safety, and confirm linkage with any referrals. This may be satisfied through a phone call with a client. 
• As the State of Alaska continues to develop the crisis care continuum, the applicant will coordinate with the Alaska Crisis Call Center, Careline, to develop a communication pathway that ensures that referrals will be accepted for mobile crisis outreach services when a caller meets the criteria for those services.

When appropriate provide MOCR services to the family or support system in support of an individual who is experiencing a behavioral health crisis. 

• Deploy peer specialists in the provision of mobile outreach response and follow up in 48 hours
• Medication services
• Referral and linkage to appropriate services

Applicants must upload a timeline for the initiation of services and project activities. The timeline must identify a project start date of July 1, 2022 with service delivery beginning no later than August 1, 2022. 

Applicant proposals must describe the ways in which the project aligns with program intent. The submitted project proposal will identify agency resources available to the project; describe project activities; and clearly state the project’s anticipated goals, outputs, and outcomes.

Applicants agree to comply with the following additional program requirements and service standards. 

MOCR services are to be provided in accordance with the Alaska Administrative Service Standard Manuals and in alignment with national best practices; see The SAMHSA Essential Expectations for Crisis Services and the National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Best Practice Tool Kit.

1.04Program Evaluation Requirements and Reporting

Results Based Budgeting Framework

Results based budgeting provides a framework in which allocated resources support, and are justified by, a set of outputs and expected results. Within this framework, actual performance and achieved outcomes are measured by objective performance measures.

Projects are required to align with program objectives expressing Department priorities and core services. Projects will use performance measures to evaluate progress toward meaningful outcomes, and to initiate data collection and reporting consistent with Department priorities.

The Department Priorities, Core Services, Objectives, and Performance Measures of Effectiveness and Efficiency for this program are:

Department Priorities

• 1 Health & Wellness Across the Life Span

Department Core Services

• 1.1 Protect and Promote the Health of Alaskans

Performance Measures

1. Efficiency Measure- Average response time to initial call out  

Data Collection: Start time when call is received and end time when the agency arrives to scene as documented in miscellaneous note.

Collection Method: AKAIMS

2. Efficiency Measure- Average after action client follow up 

Data Collection: Follow up with clients is required within 48 hours after crisis is resolved. The follow up time is measured by the number of hours between end time of initial encounter and the start time of follow up encounter within 48 hours divided by total number of clients served. 

Collection Method: Quarterly Reports

3. Effectiveness Measure- Percentage of mobile crisis responses resolved in the community

Data Collection: # of encounters that were resolved without having to transfer to higher level of care including 23-hour observation.

Collection Method: Quarterly Reports

4. Effectiveness Measure- Percentage of calls responded to within 2 hours.

Data Collection: Start time when call is received and time when the agency arrives to scene as documented in miscellaneous note.

Collection Method: Quarterly Reports

The applicant's proposed evaluation plan will incorporate the performance measures of effectiveness and efficiency identified above. Applicants can propose additional performance measures for evaluating the project’s progress in achieving results supportive of program goals and outcomes. (The applicant's evaluation plan must include indicators and data gathering strategies that will be used.)

Grant Reporting

Required reporting will include:

1. Cumulative Fiscal Report (overall grant and match expenditures are reported quarterly by budget line item);
2. Quarterly Narrative program report 
3. Minimal Data Set in AKAIMS
4. FFATA: If funding for this program includes federal funds with reporting requirements that include those imposed under the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), an agency power user must complete a FFATA form in the GEMS Agency Administration tab Federal reporting requirements are not limited to prime awardees (such as the State) but include awards with federal funds that the State grants out (sub awardee).

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 identified in this solicitation.

Target Population: The target population for the services for this solicitation are individuals including both youth and adults (all ages) experiencing mental health and or substance use related crises. 

Service Areas and Communities: The service area for this solicitation is statewide for areas with a population of less than 30,000 as defined solely by the 2021 Population Estimates by borough, Census Area and Economic Region listed at the Department of Labor Workforce Development website.

1.06Program Funding

Estimated funding for the FY23 partial year duration (7/1/2022-3/14/2023) is $450,000 for 1 substance use disorder (SUD) program, and $350,000 for 1 Behavioral Health program. This RFP will fund a total of 2 applicants.

Total funding for the duration of this project is estimated to be $800,000 of Federal Funds. This grant program is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Block Grant COVID 19 Supplemental Substance Abuse.

Match Requirement: The budget must include matching funds equal to 25% of the proposed DHSS funds. Calculate required match with the following formula.

Total Requested Grant Award x Required Match Percentage = Required Match

Federal grant funds may not be used to match federal funds awarded through this grant program, and State grant funds may not be used to match State funds awarded through this grant program.

Eligible sources of matching funds include:

• Local Cash: local sources, including local tax receipts, municipal revenue sharing, cash donations
• Local In-Kind:  donated items of value for which the applicant incurs no cost, including volunteer labor and donations of supplies, equipment, space
• Other Sources:  government and non-government grant awards, third party receipts, direct receipts such as gaming or sales of goods
• Grant Income: earnings anticipated as a result of this project proposal receiving award, and Medicaid reimbursements if award of this grant is required for the applicant to bill Medicaid for awarded services
• Medicaid: includes Medicaid which is not Grant Income, as well as other third-party receipts

Proposed Budget: The applicant must submit both a detailed and narrative budget for 8.5 months, for startup costs and operation of the grant, including any required match, which is fully compliant with the limitations described in 7 AAC 78.160 (Costs), and supports program staffing and service delivery requirements stated in this RFP.

The budget should include start-up and operating costs. Review DHSS grant regulation 7 AAC 78.160 for allowable costs and restrictions. Startup costs should be entered in “600 Other Costs” category of the budget detail and narrative section. Grantee's will require pre-approval from DHSS prior to spending grant funds for associated startup costs. The budget is for the partial FY23 July 1, 2022 through March 14, 2023. The federal funding source ends 3/14/23. 

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. DHSS 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. If an agency has never entered into a federally approved Indirect Cost Rate Agreement or no longer has a federally approved agreement in place, the recently updated Federal Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 now allows that agency to budget the 10% De Minimis.

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. DHSS funds are the payer of last resort.

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 DHSS 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 describe previous experience providing services the same or similar to those proposed. The description must clearly identify the time period over which services were provided and the target population served.

2.02Project Staffing

Project staffing must be sufficient to implement the proposed activities in order to meet program goals and the anticipated outcomes.

Resumes, position descriptions and professional credentials for key project personnel must be uploaded as part of the response. This is part of the pre-award risk assessment required under Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200.

Staffing for MOCR should meet qualifications as defined in the Alaska Administrative Services Standards Manual and may include: 

• Licensed physicians
• Licensed physician assistants 
• Advanced registered nurse practitioners 
• Licensed psychologist
• Mental health professional clinicians
• Substance use disorder counselors
• Behavioral health clinical associates
• Behavioral health aide
• Peer support specialist 

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.
2. The applicant must ensure its most recent financial audit was submitted to the appropriate state office (see Audit Requirements below), and any findings identified have been resolved.

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

Audit Requirements:

Federal Requirements: Agencies spending $750,000 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, 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

DHSS Program Audit Requirements: All DHSS 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 and Social Services
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 address potential safety concerns for clients and staff in the management of services proposed in response to this RFP.
2. The applicant should describe client accessibility to services and the way in which that will enhance project success.
3. All applicants for DHSS 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. Community support where services are proposed;
2. Involvement of the public and potential service recipients in the planning process;
3. Partnerships and collaborations specific to the proposed project, including a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed with law enforcement and first responders; and
4. Coordination with necessary referring agencies and the role of each described.

3.01Eligibility

Applicants must be eligible to apply under 7 AAC 78.030 (Eligible Applicants). Eligible applicants are state agencies; political subdivisions of the state such as cities, organized boroughs, and Regional Educational Attendance Areas; nonprofit organizations and consortia of nonprofits; and Alaska Native entities. As follows, eligibility will be verified by Grants and Contracts.

1. Political subdivisions of the state and Regional Educational Attendance Areas will be verified by State records.
2. Eligible nonprofits are listed in the State's database of registered nonprofit entities or the US Internal Revenue Service's register of tax-exempt organizations. Nonprofit subsidiaries of nonprofit corporations must also provide a letter from the parent organization confirming nonprofit status.
3. Alaska Native entities as defined in 7 AAC 78.950(1) must submit, with the application, a legally binding resolution waiving the entity’s sovereign immunity to suit through the duration of the program, identified in RFP Subsection 3.05. The resolution must be authorized in compliance with the tribe’s constitution, either by the tribal council or by majority vote of the tribal membership. The required template is provided at Subsection 4.02, Other Technical Requirements.

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 $30,000. FFATA is intended to hold the federal government accountable for spending decisions. Accountability data is available to the public at the USA Spending Website. 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 webpage.

Effective April 4th, 2022, the US Federal Government transitioned from the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to a System for Award Management (SAM) generated Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) alpha-numeric value for federal awards management. All grantees receiving awards with federal funds are required to have a UEI. More information regarding this transition can be found on the U.S. General Services Administration webpage. 

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 further notice. If an agency is new and does not have a DUNS number, the requirement for a DUNS number will be waived and only the UEI will be necessary. 

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.

If this grant program includes Federal funding, effective November 12, 2020 Federal Uniform Guidance 2 CFR 200 requires that agencies be registered on the System for Award Management (SAM) website.. If an applicant is recommended for award and is not registered on this site, the offered award will not be executed, and funds will not be issued until agency registration is confirmed.

Applicants who have had a contract or grant to help produce this RFP are not eligible to apply and any submitted proposal will 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 accessed 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 later than the Deadline for Written Inquiries, also identified on the cover page. 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 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 partial year period, beginning 7/1/2022 through 3/14/2023. At the discretion of the Department, a project funded under this RFP may be considered for continued funding in subsequent program year(s). The annual decision to continue funding for the subsequent year(s) of the 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; and
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 partial year FY23 (7/1/2022-3/14/2023). 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 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. DHSS 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), DHSS staff will evaluate each responsive proposal. Scores for each criterion will be based solely on the response to the associated question. Points will not be earned if the information was provided in response to another question in Section 4. DHSS 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; and
   4. municipal ordinances or regulations applicable to the grant program.

If there are multiple responsive proposals for which there is insufficient money to fully fund, or supplementary expertise is deemed necessary to the review of proposed services, the Department may appoint a Proposal Evaluation Committee (PEC) as an additional advisory body. PEC members will initially evaluate proposals, independently of other committee members. As a committee the PEC will meet in a closed session (7 AAC 78.090 Review of Proposals) to further review proposals and develop recommendations. Scores will be assigned based on the applicant's response to each individual question and the associated criteria. Applicants will not earn points for a given question based on a response to another question in the RFP. The PEC review will include discussion of each proposal’s merits. PEC recommendations will rank proposals in priority order and include approval or disapproval for award, modifications to the proposed project, and special compliance conditions.

All staff advisory recommendations and, if applicable, those of the PEC, 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 and Social Services or the Commissioner’s designee.

3.07Final Decision Authority

Recommendations are advisory only, including those from any PEC that may be held. 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, applicants 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:

Adam Crum, Commissioner
Department of Health & Social Services
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. DHSS 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