5562-0 Final~1.pdf

STATE OF OREGON

COVER PAGE

OHA HEALTH SYSTEMS- BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WORKFORCE

Is issuing this Request For Grant Applications (RFGA) 5562 under OregonBuys Bid Number S-44300-00006187 for

Tuition Assistance and Stipends for Graduate-Level Behavioral Health Students

Date of Issue: March 17,2023

Opening Date and Time: April 21, 2023 at 4:00pm PST

Single Point of Contact (SPC): Karissa Montano, Contract Specialist 3 Address: 635 Capitol St NE, Suite 350 City, State, Zip Salem, OR 97301 Phone (voice) 503-509-3584 E-mail: Karissa.Montano@odhsoha.oregon.gov

The State of Oregon promotes equal opportunity for all individuals without regard to age, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion or creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT A APPLICATION SHEET

ATTACHMENT B BUDGET TABLE

ATTACHMENT C SAMPLE GRANT AGREEMENT

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The State of Oregon, acting by and through the Oregon Health Authority (“Agency”), is issuing this Request for Applications under the provisions of ORS 413.033 and House Bill 4071 (2022) for programs that provide tuition assistance and stipends for students in Graduate-level Behavioral Health Related Programs.

1.2 SCHEDULE

The table below represents a tentative schedule of events. All times are listed in Pacific Time.

All dates listed are subject to change. N/A denotes that event is not applicable to this RFP.

Event Date Time

Questions / Requests for Clarification Due March 31, 2023 4:00 PM

Answers to Questions / Requests for Clarification Issued (approx.) April 7 2023

Opening (Application Due) April 21,2023 @ 4:00pm

Opening of Application April 21, 2023 4:00 PM

Issuance of Notice of Intent to Award (approx.) May 5, 2023

1.3 SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT (SPC)

The SPC for this RFGA is identified on the Cover Page, along with the SPC’s contact information. Applicant shall direct all communications related to any provision of the RFGA only to the SPC, whether about the technical requirements of the RFGA, contractual requirements, the RFGA process, or any other provision.

2. OVERVIEW AND SCOPE

2.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS

For the purposes of this RFGA, the terms below shall have the following meanings:

Communities of Color means members of the following racial or ethnic communities:

• American Indian

• Alaska Native

• Hispanic or Latino

• Asian

• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

• Black or African American

• Mixed race

• Other racial or ethnic minorities

Communities Who are Underserved includes, but is not limited to, communities of color, Tribal communities, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, refugees, immigrants, veterans, persons with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, people in custody, and rural residents.

Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services mean provision of culturally and linguistically responsive services designed for a specific population by a provider who shares the culture, language, or identity with the individual seeking services.

Good Academic Standing means a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher.

Graduate-level Behavioral Health Related Programs include, but are not limited to:

• Social work programs

• Counseling programs

• Psychology programs

• Behavioral science programs

2.2 OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE

Oregon is in a behavioral healthcare workforce crisis that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The need from Oregon’s communities for qualified behavioral healthcare workers increases while the supply continues to fall short.

The existing workforce continues to struggle with the capacity to meet demand, a struggle that interferes with retention and recruitment efforts. Oregon’s Communities Who are Underserved are most impacted by this crisis. Communities of Color and Tribal communities are failed by a lack of culturally specific and culturally responsive services within the current behavioral health care workforce.

Rural communities are failed by a lacking general presence of behavioral healthcare workers.

Due to the increasing needs of behavioral health care workers, House Bill 4071 authorizes OHA to distribute funds to behavioral healthcare institutions for the purpose of providing tuition assistance and stipends for students in Graduate-level Behavioral Health-Related Programs. This RFGA aims to diversify the behavioral health workforce by improving recruitment, retention, and capacity of culturally responsive, culturally specific, linguistically specific, and rural behavioral health care workers. This funding opportunity includes $6M for tuition assistance and $1.5M for stipends for Graduate-level Behavioral Health students.

3. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

3.1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Qualified Applicants must fall within one of the following categories:

1. Non-profit nationally accredited public universities and colleges located in Oregon that provide Graduate-level Behavioral Health Related Programs.

2. Non-profit nationally accredited private universities and colleges located in Oregon that provide Graduate-level Behavioral Health Related Programs.

3. Nationally accredited online only colleges and universities that have students enrolled in Graduate-level Behavioral Health Related Programs who are living in Oregon and meet standards to become licensed in Oregon.

3.2 APPLICATION CRITERIA

Only one Application per institution may be submitted. Applications:

1. Focused on increasing the diversity of the behavioral health workforce are strongly encouraged and will be prioritized.

2. Are to be centered on advancing equity, expanding Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services, and supporting students who are from Communities Who are Underserved.

3. Leveraging existing community resources, and partnerships, and demonstrating financial investment beyond the funds sought in the Application will receive increased priority for funding.

3.3 MINIMUM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for award, Applicants under this RFGA shall:

1. Complete the Application Sheet (Attachment A) and the Budget Table (Attachment B).

2. Clearly identify how the Applicant’s institution will support students who come from Communities Who are Underserved. Successful Applications will document how each awarded program will work with their internal diversity, equity, and inclusion officer in supporting students for awards.

3.4 CORE VALUES

The following is the lens through which Applications will be viewed. Does Applicant’s program:

1. Increase the behavioral health system’s capacity to provide Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services that are deeply embedded in equity, de-stigmatization of services, promotion of restorative healing, and community empowerment?

2. Develop and invest in Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services workforce and increase access to Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services and interventions rooted in culturally based practices?

3. Include thoughtful and deliberate engagement of communities in shared decision-making to build structures/processes/resources/supports for increasing recruitment and retention of a Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services behavioral health workforce?

4. FUNDING GUIDELINES

The following provides an outline of allowable uses for funds awarded under this RFGA.

Funds must be:

Awarded to Graduate-level Behavioral Health students only.

Funds must not be:

Used for increasing administrative staff’s compensation.

Funds may be:

1. Requested for two years.

2. Requested for / awarded up to:

a. $1,500,000 for tuition assistance for Graduate-level Behavioral Health students.

b. $375,000 for stipends for Graduate-level Behavioral Health students.

c. $15,000 per academic year - maximum tuition assistance per student.

d. $3,000 per student - maximum stipend for students in Graduate-level Behavioral Health Programs. Students awarded may use this stipend without restriction.

3. Used to award students who intend to increase access to Culturally and Linguistically Specific Services for Communities Who are Underserved.

4. Used to award students in Good Academic Standing.

5. Used to award students who commit to working in Oregon upon graduation.

6. Used to cover incentive program administrative costs up to 5% of the total budget requested.

7. Used to award full-time and part-time students in Graduate-level Behavioral Health programs.

OHA will determine the final amount of the Grant Award to successful Applicants by calculating the total number of Applicant’s students enrolled in Graduate-level Behavioral Health programs and comparing it to the total number of students across all awarded institutions. Awards will be determined based on a percentage of students they have.

5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

1. Project Performance Plan - due within 45 days of execution of Grant Agreement; a four-page template will be provided by OHA.

2. Quarterly Report - due on the 5th day of the month after each fiscal quarter within the Award period

a. Includes fiscal reporting and project status updates.

b. Colleges and universities will be required to capture REALD data on students who are awarded for each incentive, broken down by the amount each student is awarded and program.

c. All requests for payment and reporting documents shall include the following:

i. Agreement Number (or applicable successor agreement number, if amended)

ii. Agreement Administrator Name: Terrence Saunders (or applicable successor Agreement Administrator)

iii. Description of costs included in the request for payment to include:

1. Itemized cost of tuition and fees per student

2. Breakdown of who was awarded with REALD information

3. Amount of funds used in the previous year, if applicable

3. Annual Report - due every July 5th following execution of Grant Agreement through the term of the Agreement; a two-page template will be provided by OHA.

a. Colleges and universities will be required to capture REALD data on students who are awarded for each incentive. A survey template will be provided by

OHA.

4. Final Project Status Report - due at the end of the Grant Award reporting period; a two-page template and Excel template for this will be provided by OHA.

Requirements also include the submission of a detailed expenditure report.

6. CHANGES, MODIFICATIONS, AND CLARIFICATIONS

OHA may issue revisions, substitutions, or clarifications as addenda to this RFGA.

Revisions, substitutions, or clarifications to the RFGA shall be recognized only if in the form of written addenda issued by OHA.

7. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

OHA reserves all rights regarding this RFGA, including without limitation, the rights in OHA’s sole discretion to:

• Amend or cancel this RFGA without liability if it is in the best interest of the OHA to do so;

• Waive any minor informality or non-conformance with the provisions or procedures of this RFGA;

• Seek clarification of any Application;

• Negotiate the project activities described in this RFGA;

• Negotiate the award amount described in this RFGA;

• Amend or extend the term of any Agreement issued as a result of this RFGA;

• Engage Applicants(s) by selection or procurement for different or additional program activities independent of this RFGA process and any agreements entered into pursuant hereto;

• Enter into direct negotiations to execute a Grant Agreement with a successful Applicant in the event that the Applicant is the sole Applicant to this RFGA, and OHA determines that the Applicant satisfies the minimum RFGA requirements;

• Reject any Application upon finding that to accept the Application may impair the integrity of the selection process or that rejecting the Application is in the best interest of OHA; and

• Reject any Applicant that discriminates against any of Oregon’s protected classes.

8. SELECTION NOTICE

Successful Applicants will be notified in writing by OHA or via OregonBuys.

9. COST OF APPLICATIONS AND OBLIGATION

All costs incurred in preparing and submitting an application in response to this RFGA will be the Applicant’s responsibility and will not be reimbursed by OHA. Applicants who submit an application in response to this RFGA understand and agree that OHA is not obligated to select any Applicant and, further, has no financial obligation to any Applicant arising from this RFGA.

10. RELEASE OF INFORMATION

Except as required by the Oregon Public Records Law or other applicable law, no information will be given to any Applicant (or any other individual) relative to its standing in relation to other Applicants during the RFGA process.

11. PUBLIC INFORMATION

After Applicants are notified, the RFGA file is subject to public disclosure in accordance with the Oregon Public Records Law (ORS 192.311–192.478). If any part of an Application is considered a trade secret as defined in Oregon Revised Statutes 192.345(2) or otherwise exempt from disclosure under Oregon Public Records Law, the Applicant shall submit one additional copy of their Application that redacts only the exempt language. Any person may request copies of public information. However, except as required by applicable law, copies of Applications will not be provided until the evaluation process has been completed and the Applicants are notified. Requests for copies of public information shall be in writing. Requestors will be charged according to the current OHA policies and rates for public records requests in effect at the time OHA receives the written request for public information. Fees, if applicable, must be received by OHA before the records are delivered to the requestor.