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

Specifications

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice of Funds Available (NoFA) is to increase both policymakers' capacity on disability-related issues and civic participation among Georgians with disabilities—by providing accessible information, increasing voter registration, removing barriers to participation, and ensuring people with disabilities have the knowledge and resources to exercise their voting rights effectively.

Schedule of Events

This Request for Proposals will be governed by the following schedule:
• Applications Due – January 25, 2026
• Contract Negotiations and Signed Contracts By – February 27, 2026
• Start Date/Work Begins – March 1, 2026

Restrictions on Communication

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

Questions must be directed in writing to the Grants Manager, Felicia Dillon at: felicia.dillon@gcdd.ga.gov

Questions must include the company name and the referenced NoFA section.
From the issue date of this NoFA until a contractor is selected and the selection is announced, Applicants are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any State staff except through the Grants Manager, or during the Applicants' conference, or as provided by existing work agreement(s). The State reserves the right to reject the proposal of any Applicant violating this provision.
All questions concerning this NoFA must be submitted in writing by email to felicia.dillon@gcdd.ga.gov. Only written questions will be accepted. No response other than written will be binding upon the State.

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. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) makes funds available to fulfill its mission in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its Five-Year Strategic Plan https://gcdd.org/about/five-year-strategic-plan Through its funding, GCDD works to increase the capacities and resources of public and private nonprofit entities and others to develop a comprehensive community system that responds to the choices, capabilities and needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. The purpose of GCDD grants is to expand best practices and contribute to system-wide changes that support the rights of people with developmental disabilities and their full inclusion as community members. Recipients of GCDD grants are expected to be ongoing partners bringing about change. 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.

Scope of Work

The work will collaborate with existing grassroots coalitions and organizations to foster understanding of/engagement in civic engagement at all levels of government and to drive home the message that every vote counts. The project will build greater awareness among candidates and elected officials about disability issues and priorities, provide measurable data on voter participation rates among people with disabilities and document barriers to voting experienced by people with disabilities.

Participants will understand their voting influence on legislation and policies that affect their everyday lives with the result being a robust network of advocates that work to strengthen community led change throughout Georgia.

Grantees will have proven experience with and knowledge of grassroots organizing, Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, Georgia’s election/voter registration processes as well as existing barriers to full participation in both, voter rights, cultivating relationships with partner organizations and community groups, working with historically underrepresented and/or historically marginalized communities, particularly in political and organizing settings.

Sample activities grant awardees can lead to include but are not limited to:
Leading webinars and creating collateral materials to educate the public about:
• Voting laws and rights
• Voter ID and additional eligibility requirements
• Understanding candidates and referendums that will appear on ballots
• Organizing volunteers to build community civic engagement and understanding

Applicants must provide summaries, websites, or program summary examples of past civic leadership work.

Expected Outputs
Component 1: Increase the number of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and family members who vote.

Component 2: Increase the number of people running for office who are educated about the issues important to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families.

Performance Measures:
IFA.1.1 The number of people with developmental disabilities who participated in Council supported activities designed to increase their knowledge of how to take part in decisions that affect their lives, the lives of others, and/or systems.
IFA.1.2 The number of family members who participated in Council supported activities designed to increase their knowledge of how to take part in decisions that affect the family, the lives of others, and/or systems.
IFA.2.1A After participation in Council supported activities, the number of people with developmental disabilities who responded to follow up inquiries about increasing their advocacy.
IFA.2.1B The number of people with developmental disabilities that responded to follow up inquiries who reported increasing their advocacy.
IFA.2.2A After participation in Council supported activities, the number of family members who responded to follow-up inquiries about increasing their advocacy.
IFA.2.2B The number of family members that responded to follow up inquiries who reported increasing their advocacy as a result of Council work.
IFA.2.3FAM Of the total in IFA 2.2B, the number of family members who responded that they are ‘better able to say what they want, or say what is important to them.’
IFA.2.3IND Of the total in IFA 2.1B, the number of people with developmental disabilities who responded that they are ‘better able to say what they want or say what is important to them.’
IFA.3.1A The number of people with developmental disabilities who completed the satisfaction question on the participant surveys.
IFA.3.1B The number of people with developmental disabilities satisfied with a project activity.
IFA.3.2A The number of family members who completed the satisfaction question on the participant surveys.
IFA.3.2B The number of family members satisfied with a project activity.

Application Submission & Evaluation

The Applicant must submit a complete application in DD Suite which includes a Project Outline, a Project Work Plan and a Project Budget.

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. (See complete application process and Guide to DD Suite attached)
Additional Submission Requirements:
1) Upload of copy of the Federal W-9 (attached to this NoFA)
2) Upload a plain language summary of the submitted application. The plain language summary should be one to two pages, and should include the following headings followed by a short plain language paragraph (5 – 10 sentences):
• Executive Summary
• Qualifications
• Detailed Narrative
• Outcomes Key
• Evaluation
• Community
• Budget
• Workplan
Applications that do not include a plain language summary may be rejected.
Each proposal should be prepared simply and economically, avoiding the use of elaborate promotional materials (unless materials have been requested) beyond those sufficient to provide a complete presentation. If supplemental materials are a necessary part of the proposal, the Applicant should reference these materials in the technical proposal, identifying the document(s) and citing the appropriate section and page(s) to be reviewed.
Any proposal received after the due date and time will not be evaluated.

Evaluation Process
The evaluation of proposals received on or before the due date and time will be conducted in the following phases. Any proposal received after the due date and time will not be evaluated.

Administrative Review
The Grants Manager will screen each proposal. The screening will consist of:
(1) determining if the Applicant is eligible to receive Council funds including determining if the Applicant meets eligibility requirements and is registered to do business in Georgia;
(2) the budget is within the funding limits and includes the required match;
(3) the application is complete and all sections in DD Suite have responses; and,
(4) the required forms are attached.

DD Suite will issue an automatic reply acknowledging receipt of your proposal immediately after successful submission.

NOFA Policies

Rejection of Proposals/Cancellation of NoFA

The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularity or informality in a proposal, and to accept or reject any item or combination of items; when to do so would be to the advantage of the State. It is also within the right of the State to reject proposals that do not contain all the elements and information requested in this document. The State reserves the right to cancel this NoFA at any time. The State will not be liable for any cost/losses incurred by the Applicants throughout this process.

NoFA Amendments

The State reserves the right to amend this NoFA prior to the proposal due date. All amendments and additional information will be posted to http://ddsuite.org Applicants are encouraged to check this website frequently.

Proposal Withdrawal

A submitted proposal may be withdrawn prior to the due date by a written request to the Operations and Contracts Director. A request to withdraw a proposal must be signed by an authorized individual.

Cost for Preparing Proposals

The cost for developing the proposal is the sole responsibility of the Applicant. The State will not provide reimbursement for such costs.

Conflict of Interest

If an Applicant has any existing client relationship that involves the State of Georgia, the Applicant must disclose each relationship.

Reciprocal Preference Law OCGA 50-5-60(b)

For the purposes of evaluation only, Applicants resident in the State of Georgia will be granted the same preference over Applicants resident in another State in the same manner, on the same basis, and to the same extent that preference is granted in awarding bids for the same goods or services by such other State Applicants resident therein over Applicants resident in the State of Georgia. NOTE: For the purposes of this law, the definition of a resident Applicant is one who maintains a place of business with at least one employee inside the State of Georgia. A post office box address will not satisfy this requirement.

ADA Guidelines

The State of Georgia adheres to the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants should contact the Grants Manager at least 48 hours in advance if they require special arrangements when attending the Applicant's Conference. The Georgia Relay Center at 1-800-255-0056 (TDD Only) or 1-800-255-0135 (Voice) will relay messages, in strict confidence, for the speech and hearing impaired.