Notice of Funds Available (RFP) Print Apply for this Grant

Specifications

Project Purpose/Overview

Through this Notice of Funds Available, the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) seeks to support local and statewide efforts that result in increased access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities. Grant projects funded through this open call for proposals must be used for organizing and conducting culturally and linguistically competent outreach, education, and/or vaccination events and providing needed supports for people with disabilities, including individuals with diverse identities and/or individuals who are underserved. Grant projects may also indirectly benefit individuals with disabilities by targeting other groups such as family members of people with disabilities, direct support workers/providers, personal care attendants, and other support staff.

Schedule of Events

This Request for Proposals will be governed by the following schedule:
• September 22, 2021 RFP posted on DD Suite and GCDD Website
• October 6, 2021 Deadline for Written Questions
• October 22, 2021 Applications Due in DD Suite by 11:59 PM
• October 22 - November 5, 2021 Application Review and Evaluation
• November 8, 2021 Finalist Notified, Notice of Intent to Award Posted
• November 8-14, 2021 Contract Negotiations with assigned program staff
• November 15, 2021 - Earliest Start Date

Restrictions on Communication

Applicants are restricted from communicating with GCDD staff and Council members during the competitive NoFA process (on matters concerning this NoFA).
All questions concerning this NoFA must be submitted in writing by email to lisa.eaves@gcdd.ga.gov.
Only written questions will be accepted. No response other than written will be binding upon the State.
All questions about this NoFA must be submitted in the following format:
Organization/Individual Name
1. Question
Citation of relevant section of the NoFA
2. Question
Citation of relevant section of the NoFA

The DD Council

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD), is one of 56 entities of its type in the United States and territories that report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Community Living. It is authorized under Public Law 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 2000.

Our activities are governed by a 27-member board, appointed by the Governor and comprised of at least 60 percent individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. Other members include policymakers that represent various agencies and organizations having a vested interested in persons with developmental disabilities.

GCDD serves as an advocate for all persons with developmental disabilities. We are charged with creating systems change for people with developmental disabilities and their families by increasing opportunities for independence, inclusion, integration, productivity and self-determination. Activities include public policy research and analysis, reform, project demonstrations, education and training.
The GCDD is a state agency, attached to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) for administrative purposes.

Request For Proposals (RFP Description)

GCDD may fund up to $75,000 in grant awards for one or more projects in Georgia for the current grant cycle. Funding for individual projects may range from $5,000 to $75,000. The Council may award all or a portion of available funds and may choose not to award grant funds if budget limitations are encountered or if it determines that none of the grant proposals received will achieve the desired systemic change. The grant period for this open call for proposals will be approximately 10 months.

GCDD Objectives and Target Population:

Projects should also be designed to build capacity, by expanding and improving the ability of individuals with DD, their families and support networks, to promote and enhance self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.
Proposed projects must focus on the ability of people with disabilities, in particular, to access COVID-19 vaccines. Submissions may also choose to support the ability of their support networks, as a secondary target population, to access COVID-19 vaccines.
Projects that will be Considered for Funding

Background: People with disabilities may have an increased risk for contracting COVID-19 based on where they live and/or the services they receive. People with disabilities may require close contact with direct service providers, including personal care attendants or other support staff. Additionally, many people with disabilities may have underlying health conditions that increases the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. It is therefore critical that people with disabilities have access to the COVID-19 vaccine and associated resources.

Barriers to information about COVID-19 vaccines and access to the vaccines can vary depending on where a person lives in Georgia and other individual factors, such as available natural supports, access to the internet, accessibility of the information, and mobility. Additionally, some people with disabilities may be hesitant to get the vaccine because they are afraid of needles or need a sensory friendly environment. According to a survey conducted in March – April 2021 by the American Association on Health & Disability, people with disabilities are also hesitant to get the vaccine due to concerns about how the vaccine would interact with their underlying health conditions.

Funding provided through this RFP can be used to support time, supplies (including sensory and other support needs), provision of transportation or other supports to access vaccines, marketing materials, developing accessible information1 (preferred language, plain language), non-cash stipends to participants in exchange for proof of vaccination, etc. An example of an allowable participant stipend would be a $10 or $25 gift card in exchange for taking someone to be vaccinated and sharing a picture or taking a survey on why they got vaccinated, or a stipend for a person with a disability or family member to share their vaccination story during an outreach or educational event.

Other allowable activities include but are not limited to:
• Holding outreach events, which may include providing vaccinations for people with disabilities and their family members and/or support staff.
• Providing education about the vaccine to debunk myths and address hesitancy in accessible formats that could also include languages other than English.
• Assisting with scheduling vaccine appointments.
• Helping to arrange vaccine appointments for people with disabilities who are not able to leave their home, including appointments for their family members and support staff.
• Arranging and providing accessible transportation to vaccine appointments.
• Providing companion/personal supports through each stage of the vaccination process from scheduling to receipt of final shot (vaccine wrap-around services).
• Providing technical assistance to local health departments or other entities on accessibility of vaccine sites.
• Providing an ongoing series of campaigns as new information and resources become available e.g., the Delta variant, access to vaccines is expanded e.g., children 5 to 12 years old, and booster shots as recommended by the CDC.

The Council understands that COVID-19 vaccination needs for individuals with disabilities are fluid and vary across the state. We want to ensure, to the extent possible, that the types of activities conducted are flexible and allow for changes should needs change or additional guidance be received (e.g. boosters, vaccinations for children under 12, etc.). Applicants are invited to submit proposals that include or target children under age 12 in anticipation of vaccine approval for that age group.

The Council considers cultural competence to include the following:
The organization has defined values, principles, policies, and behaviors that demonstrate that
(1) diversity and differences are valued; and
(2) the organization is able to work effectively across cultures and adapt to the cultural context of the communities being served.


What We Will Not Fund
Through GCDD’s grants process, we will not support the following:
 Existing projects or services that are a part of an organization’s current program or budget.
 Projects that would supplant or replace existing federal, state, or local dollars to conduct the project.
 Projects which have a federal, state or local mandate to be delivered by the applicant organization.
 Projects which include capital expenditures for the acquisition of land or buildings, new construction, or major repair.
 Projects that do not ensure meaningful diversity and inclusion, and are exclusive of an individual’s race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, political affiliation, disability, and veteran status
 Projects that take place in restrictive, isolated, or segregated settings that do not promote community integration for children or adults with disabilities.

Grant Reporting Requirements

The funds being awarded through this RFP were provided to the GCDD from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), with funding and partnership support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to provide critical services to help communities combat COVID-19. Funded projects will be required to report inside the DD Suite system on any and all activities that are implemented using grant funding. Grantees should have mechanisms in place to track their activities and impact.

Grantees are expected to report on the number and type of people served. This may include some of the following information, as appropriate per the project scope:

• Number of people with disabilities reached by your education activities.
• Race, ethnicity, and gender identity of people served
• Residential zip code of people served
• Satisfaction of people served.
• Number of all other people reached by your education activities.
• Number of local health departments or other entities assisted with technical assistance on vaccine accessibility.
• Number of people helped in scheduling vaccine appointments.
• Number of people assisted with accessible transportation to a vaccination site.
• Number of people assisted with companion/personal support to receive vaccines.
• Number of people who needed and received a reminder of their second vaccination appointment.

Grantees are also expected to report on the overall outcome of the project. This includes, to the extent available, the number of people with disabilities and the number of other people who are vaccinated as a result of project implementation.

Grantees are also expected to report on their collaboration and joint activities with other community-based organizations, including successes and challenges in your collaboration efforts.

The selected grantee will be required to submit monthly and final programmatic and expense reports for staff review in DD suite. The reports will include, but are not limited to, the aforementioned information regarding number and type of people served and vaccinated. Reporting deadlines and requirements will be included in the award letter and grant agreement.

Eligibility & Requirements

Submission Requirements:
Applications must be submitted online via https://www.ddsuite.org, prior to the published deadline. No hard copies will be accepted. Applicants must have or create a DD Suite user account and an organization account in order to submit an application. Go to https://www.ddsuite.org and click on "HELP TAB" for detailed instructions on creating DD Suite user and organization accounts.

Proposal applications must be received electronically in the DD Suite system by Midnight EST on or before the due dates listed in the above. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason. The Work Plan must demonstrate how the proposed objectives and activities align with the reporting requirements described in the “Grantee reporting” section such as number and type of people served, and the number and type of people vaccinated as a result of the project.

Applicants must submit a completed and signed Federal W-9 with their application. Upload the form in DD Suite as an attachment. See attachment section.

There will be no debriefing for applicants who are not selected. All applicants who respond to this NOFA will be notified of the outcome of their application (awarded, application modifications requested, or denied) by email through DD Suite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for funding from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’ Competitive Grant Program?
Eligible organizations include state or other public agencies, including universities, non-profit organizations, or for-profit organizations. GCDD encourages braided funding and partnerships. Please be sure to clearly describe the planned role and responsibilities of each partner at all stages of the project. Only one organization can receive the grant and will be contractually responsible for grant administration, reporting and delivery of the project.

Where does GCDD receive its funding?
GCDD Covid grants are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Health, Administration for Community Living, Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Can an organization submit more than one application in response to this NoFA open call for proposals?
Yes.

If I currently have an active grant from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, can I submit an application?
Yes.

How are grantees reimbursed for project expenses?
All grant payments are processed on a cost reimbursable basis (Net 30 Days)