1.01Introduction and Program Description
The Department of Health, Division of Senior, and Disabilities Services (SDS) is requesting proposals from eligible applicants to provide Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) services for the State of Alaska in FY2026 through FY2028. Program Services are authorized under 7 AAC 78 Grant Programs. Additional governing statutes are AS 47.24 Protection of Vulnerable Adults, AS 47.65 Service Programs for Older Alaskans and Other Adults, Federal Authorization: PL 101-508 codified at 42 USC 1395b-4, section 4360 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, 7AAC 127.030 (b), and 7AAC 127.190 (12). 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).
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 the ADRC is to be a visible and trusted community resource for seniors and people with disabilities seeking information and referral, options counseling, and short-term assistance to help identify both short and long-term needs to ensure a persons' health and safety. Additionally, all people seeking long-term services and supports through SDS will first meet with the ADRC to help determine what services may best meet their current needs, determined through the Person-Centered Intake (PCI).
Anticipated Outcomes:
- Provide a conflict free entry point for people seeking long-term services through SDS.
- Increase/maintain the number of people receiving information and referral and short-term assistance through the ADRC (recorded as contacts in AK GetCare).
- Increase/maintain the number of individuals receiving a Person-Centered Intake (PCI) and options counseling through the ADRC (recorded in AK GetCare).
- Increase community awareness of the ADRC Program through outreach efforts, networking, and community partnerships (number of outreach activities); and
- Demonstrate satisfaction within the target populations.
Projects must meet or exceed anticipated minimum outcomes described in this RFP.
1.03Program Services/Activities
Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) serve as an unbiased resource for information and assistance related to long-term services and supports (LTSS) to older adults, people with disabilities, and to their caregivers and families. Core functions include information and referral, short-term assistance, options counseling, streamlined benefits screening through Person-Centered Intakes, as well as outreach and training. The ADRC program serves as the entry point into Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS) Medicaid Waiver programs; individuals seeking Medicaid-funded support through SDS will be required to complete the Person-Centered Intake (PCI) process through the ADRC program to help streamline the process. The ADRC network serves Alaskans statewide, regardless of age or income level.
The applicant's narrative must address how they plan to provide each of the required ADRC activities. The following list of activities are required by the ADRC Program:
- Promote the ADRC Program as a visible and trusted community resource for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their families and caretakers. ADRCs must submit a detailed outreach plan for year one and remaining years as part of this solicitation, including coverage for their proposed community, to ensure outreach is effective in increasing the visibility of the ADRC program. In addition, all ADRCs must identify themselves as an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) using the approved logo on websites, brochures, other marketing materials, and all facilities housing an ADRC site.
- Respond promptly, within no more than 3 business days, to individuals or community members seeking information and referral assistance.
- Provide an overview of SDS Medicaid Waiver Services and Medicaid financial eligibility necessary to access long-term services and supports (LTSS).
- Complete a Person-Centered Intake (PCI) for any person seeking long-term services and supports (LTSS) through Senior and Disability Services (SDS) to help determine which services best meet their needs.
- Provide options counseling based on the outcome of the Person-Centered Intake. Options Counseling is defined as a person-centered, interactive, decision-support process whereby individuals receive assistance in their deliberations to make informed long-term support choices in the context of their own preferences, strengths, and values.
- Identify immediate needs, assist individuals with identifying the steps needed to access any service; federal, state or local, and provide referral assistance based on their needs.
Applicants will upload a timeline for the initiation of services and project activities.
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.
(In support of project planning narratives, the applicant will complete a logic model using the instructions and template attached to this RFP [or provided at Section 4.04.c] . The logic model will identify resources available to the proposed project; summarize project activities; and clearly state anticipated goals, outputs, and outcomes compliant with program intent.)
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
- 1.2 Provide Quality of Life in a Safe Living Environment for Alaskans
Department Objectives
- Increase the number of Older Alaskans who are Living Safely in their Communities.
- Increase the number of Alaskans with disabilities who are living safely in the least restrictive environment.
Effectiveness Performance Measures
- Number of Unduplicated Individuals Served
- Number of Calls (duplicated) per Year
Efficiency Performance Measures
- Cost per Individual receiving services (Total Number Served/Total Cost)
Additional Performance Measures
- Number of individuals receiving Information & Referral, options counseling, and short-term assistance
- Number of Person-Centered Intakes (PCI) submitted.
- Number of Outreach Activities
- Number of Satisfaction Surveys received.
- Percent of individuals surveyed who rate services as meeting or exceeding their expectations (target of 80% or better)
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 logic model/evaluation plan must include indicators and data gathering strategies that will be used.)
Data Reporting Requirements
- All contacts, both anonymous and with an identified person, must be entered within one business day into AK GetCare, completing as many demographics as is possible and appropriate.
- All PCIs completed must be documented in AK GetCare and uploaded into SDS Harmony within two business days of the PCI being completed.
Grant Reporting Requirements
Required reporting will include:
- Cumulative Fiscal Reports recording overall grant and match expenditures by budget line, due quarterly.
- Program Narrative Reports recording the quarterly progress of the program, due quarterly.
- Results Based Accountability - Performance Measure Framework, proposed plan due prior to services beginning Quarter 1 and final status with the end of year reports.
Random Moment Study and Medicaid Administrative Claiming Requirements
- ADRC Coordinators are eligible to participate in a Random Moment Study (RMS) each quarter of each fiscal year, as SDS continues to ensure sustainable funding for the ADRC Program. All samples requiring supporting documentation (all Medicaid-related) must have a corresponding contact note in AK GetCare entered as close to the sampled time as possible, no later than 2 business days after the sampled time.
- Each participating program must submit their quarterly MAC invoice to the designated SDS Program Manager.
- All MAC funds must be reported under the Required Match and/or Additional Match/Project Support Column of the budget application according to the instructions in the GEMS Budget Guidelines, and the CFR must match the reimbursement amount shown on the MAC invoice that was submitted to the program manager.
- All ADRC Programs participating in the RMS must submit a signed and completed MAC Provider Agreement, acknowledging all MAC reimbursement funding must be used to support and grow the ADRC Program.
1.05Target Population and Service Area
Applicants must clearly describe the population covered 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 solicited services includes: seniors, people of any age with any type of disability, their caregivers, family and friends. Services are available to people regardless of their income, insurance type, status or diagnosis.
Service Areas and Communities: The service areas and communities requested for the services solicited are statewide. Aging and Disabilities Resource Centers are currently based in Anchorage, Kenai/Valdez/Cordova/Kodiak, Southeast Alaska, Bristol Bay, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, and Fairbanks NorthStar Borough. Grantees cover their community and may also provide ADRC support for underserved neighboring communities without an ADRC.
Alaska’s ADRCs must have knowledge of and provide services as funding allows, to the entire Region in which they are located. Changes to ADRC service areas must be approved by ADRC program manager.
ADRC services may be provided using one or more agencies through a defined partnership agreement if all of the following conditions can be met:
- No census area is left unserved by an ADRC in a region.
- Partner agencies may be used to serve areas no smaller than a census area through a partnership agreement or contract. Subcontracting rules apply if a contract is used.
- Partner agencies must meet the ADRC qualifications criteria set forth by SDS unless a single primary applicant for a region is willing to provide additional monitoring and oversight of partner agencies to mitigate a conflict of interest. A conflict-of-interest mitigation plan is subject to approval and adjustment by SDS. SDS has the option to impose additional requirements or determine an agency partner is unsuitable due to conflict of interest or lack of sufficient management capability.
- If multiple agencies are serving a region, a MOA or contract must include a description of which census areas will be served by which agency and/or how the partnership will be working together to serve the entire region. If there are communities on the census area borders and differing agencies will be serving these census areas, the MOA or contract must specifically describe which agency will serve which communities.
1.06Program Funding
Funds available for this program are anticipated to total $939,931 per fiscal year, which is comprised of $639,931 in General Fund/General Fund Match, and $300,000 in Mental Health Trust Authority Authorized Receipts. Overall total for the duration is estimated at $2,819,793.00. Match Requirement: The budget must include matching funds equal to 10.00% of the proposed Department 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 a budget proposal for the first fiscal year of the project. The proposed budget detail and narrative, (including required match), will support the program's results-based service delivery and staffing requirements stated in this RFP.
For ADRCs participating in MAC, MAC funds must be included in budget proposal either as “Required Match” or as "Additional Match/Project Support" to show the total cost of the program. 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. The Department's 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 15% 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. Department 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.