2.01Introduction and Program Description
The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS or Department), the Division of Public Health (Division of DPH), is requesting information from eligible applicants who are interested in providing COVID Health Equity Project Funding and Technical Assistance services for the State of Alaska. The Division needs to determine whether a limited number of eligible applicants are interested in conducting these services, or if the Division will need to issue a competitive solicitation to identify one or more COVID Healthy and Equitable Communities project funding and technical assistance grantee(s).
Program Services: The purpose of this grant program is to fund applicants to provide subawards and technical assistance to community-based organizations to address COVID-19-related health disparities, reduce gaps, and advance health by expanding capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection (or transmission) among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities. This project is funded by the Division of Public Health through a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, P.L. 116-260 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2. This funding seeks to provide outreach, technical assistance, and direct funding to community-based organizations who can work towards these goals in Alaska communities.
Program Requirements: Applicants are required to submit a Letter of Commitment which describes how they will meet the requirements outlined in this RFI and must have the ability to implement their proposed project by July 1, 2022.
- Applicants must use grant funds primarily to support direct services. Examples of possible services include but are not limited to: expanding existing and/or developing new mitigation and prevention resources and services to reduce COVID-19 related disparities among populations that are at higher risk and are underserved; increasing/improving data collection and reporting for populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death; building, leveraging, and expanding infrastructure support for COVID-19 prevention and control among populations that are at higher risk and underserved; and mobilizing partners and collaborators to address root causes related to COVID-19 and other health conditions, and to improve conditions that support health and well-being among populations that are at higher risk and are underserved. Define the scope of projects (e.g., region, topic areas) the applicant can fund, and demonstrate how that scope aligns with the applicant’s current strategic plan and/or funding guidelines.
- Specify the applicant’s capacity in terms of the amount of funding or number of subawards the applicant can support.
- Commit to using a common application process used by all grantees for subawards under this project.
- Provide outreach and technical assistance to community-based organizations to complete the application process.
- Provide technical assistance to sub awardees throughout the project period to promote long term financial sustainability of funded projects.
- Facilitate reporting by sub awardees on performance measures required by the Division of Public Health.
- Allocate at least 25% of subaward funding to community-based organizations not previously funded by the applicant.
Other Expectations:
This RFI has been developed to solicit Letters of Commitment of interested applicants. All grantees are required to collect and report certain data to satisfy state and federal reporting requirements. Please document your agreement to comply with reporting and data collection requirements. No more than 20% of the total grant award may be used for data collection, performance measures, or performance assessment.
Applicants must have a minimum of two (2) years of experience providing the services being requested. Ideally applicants will submit evidence of two (2) years of experience providing the proposed services including a list of previous funded community-based organization with their Letter of Commitment as part of the response to this Request for Information (RFI). The Division of Public Health will review all applications to determine that the applicant has conducted the services they are applying to provide for at least two (2) years.
Duration of Grant Program: 3/1/2022 through 6/30/2024
Target Population: The target population for the solicited services are Alaska community-based organizations who can propose and implement projects that address the goals of this grant funding in Alaska communities.
Service Areas and Communities: The service areas and communities requested for the services solicited include all Alaska Communities.
2.02Program Funding
Anticipated Total Funding Available: Estimated funding is $13,568,157 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities Grant and through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, P.L. 116-260 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2.
Methodology for Allocation of Funds:
Allocation of resources will be based on population and need.