Application Guidance Information- rev 11-2021~1.docx

Request For Application Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program

APPLICATION GUIDANCE INFORMATION

This Application Guidance document explains how to apply to the Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program, including how to select and plan a Project, what to submit, and the processes involved to make an application to receive grant support from DMH. This guidance material should be read in conjunction with the FY 2018 Request For Applications (RFA), which Applicants should read first. All necessary forms and documents are available on COMMBUYS.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

The Department of Mental Health provides technical assistance to Applicants interested in applying to the Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program via the Q &A process available on COMMBUYS.

The Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Grant Program is a competitive program that is available to all municipalities as well as qualified service providers within Massachusetts. It is important for municipalities and other applicants to understand that because the grant programs being procured from this RFA are competitive, DMH does not discuss individual applications or specific questions from any party, outside of the public Q & A process after the RFA’s issuance. DMH intends to update this guidance document as needed and indicated by the Q & A process. Interested parties should monitor COMMBUYS for the most recent version of this document.

Getting Started

Municipal Applicants for this Grant Program typically originate from the community’s Police Department. An individual in a leadership position (or appointed by leadership) may already have a Jail/Arrest Diversion Program model in mind, or will recommend a project after reviewing the options described in the RFA. Recommendations to seek grant support for a project should then be discussed with the appropriate municipal officials and with the public in the appropriate forum(s).

Provider Applicants for this Grant Program may be organizations or individuals who are interested in providing training, consultation, or clinical services to and/or in conjunction with public safety personnel- services that directly or indirectly support law enforcement efforts to divert individuals from arrest and into treatment when safe and appropriate to do so. As part of the process of developing a project proposal, provider Applicants should discuss and seek support for and interest in their services from the municipalities and public safety departments they propose to partner with.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion grants can fund any project that is listed and described in the RFA (see Section D and Exhibits 1-9). Traditionally, communities use Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion resources to support local implementation of police-based efforts to improve the effectiveness of their response to behavioral health-related calls for service. This is a list Project types eligible for funding by this program.

Selecting a Project

After reading the RFA document, prospective Applicants should carefully review each Project description presented in Exhibits 1-10. Municipal Applicants will typically select a police-based Jail/Arrest Diversion Program model, such as CIT, Co-Response, or a Component Program, or they may opt to apply for a Community Planning or a Training Reimbursement Grant. Provider Applicants will typically select a Trainer/Consultant/Researcher grant or a Drop-Off Center grant. Both Municipal and Provider Grantees may also be interested in a grant for operating a Technical Assistance Training Center.

Community Impact

When considering the selection of a Project, a municipal Applicant, along with the appropriate officials, should identify community needs, particularly relative to Public Safety and should identify other ongoing community initiatives, grants, projects, etc. that may be related or complementary to the proposed Project. Applicants may reference various planning documents approved by the Public Safety Department, a locally elected or appointed body, or by Town Meeting. Such plans may include but are not limited to EO 418 Community Development Plans, EO 418 housing strategies, Capital Improvement Plans, Master Plans, Downtown Plans, Open Space and Recreation Plans, Area Revitalization Strategies, Urban Renewal Plans, the regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, and a Community Action Statement (CAS). This helps to ensure that local needs have been identified and priorities determined in a comprehensive manner, and public resources are directed toward projects that address needs the community has identified as high priority. The Applicant will then draft a Community Implementation Strategy statement that briefly describes how the over-arching goal of the Project will also tie in to and enhance the Community’s Strategic plan(s), and how Applicant envisions that the anticipated successful implementation will positively impact the community. Similarly, a provider Applicant should engage in discussions with representatives from potential partner communities and describe how the over-arching goal of the Project will tie in to and enhance the partner communities’ Strategic plan(s), and how Applicant envisions that the anticipated successful implementation will positively impact those communities.

Application Instructions

After reviewing the RFA, selecting a Project and building community consensus, Applicants should begin by

1. Completing the Grant Application Form.

2. Next, the Applicant should draft a Project Proposal, following the guidelines provided in ATTACHMENT F

3. Next, the Applicant should prepare a Cost Proposal by completing a Budget Worksheet (ATTACHMENT D)

4. And draft a budget narrative, following the guidelines provided in ATTACHMENT G.

5. Next, the Applicant should assemble and prepare all remaining required attachments to the Application (Listed on Grant Application Form, Section E, and on Exhibit 10, Step One, of the RFA)

A complete Application Packet is comprised of the following articles:

· Grant Application Form

· Project Proposal

· Cost Proposal

· Commonwealth SDP Form 1 (Supplier Diversity Plan)

· Job Descriptions of any grant funded positions

· Rate Schedule (for any third party reimbursements from grant)

· Organization Chart 1: Host Department/Agency Organization Chart 2: Proposed Grant Program

· Copies of applicable license(s)/certification(s)

· Letters of Support or Resume

· Audited Financial Statement (Not-For-Profits and For-Profits only)

· Executed Commonwealth Standard Contract Form

· Executed Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

· Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing

· FORM MA W-9

· Electronic Funds Transfer form

6. Once these documents are completed and assembled, the Applicant may submit their packet to DMH as follows:

All applications must be received by DMH via the COMMBUYS web-based application system within the open procurement period of the RFA (November 6, 2017 through November 1, 2027). One hard copy of the required Grant Application Form and all attached documents with original signatures must be received by DMH in addition to the electronic submission. Hard copy documents must be sent to:

Jerome Collins Procurement Office Department of Mental Health Central Office 25 Staniford Street Boston, MA 02114 Fax#: 617 626-8014

Attachments, forms and other documents referred to throughout this guidance are either available on COMMBUYS or provided by the Applicant. See the listing of Documents/Forms on Exhibit 10 of the RFA for details on how to access the information.

Attachment Requirements:

· Attachments should be clearly named and identified in the packet.

· Do not include multiple copies of the same attachment.

· Attachments should support and document what is said in the narrative. Do not merely refer to the attachment and leave it up to the reader to discern the meaning of information contained in the attachment.

· Do not attach unnecessary documentation. Reviewers will only look at attachments that are referenced and described in the narratives.

Applications Received by DMH

DMH will review each Application Packet received and determine if (1) the Applicant is qualified and eligible for funding by this grant program and (2) if the proposed Project meets the standards set forth here in for approval. Applicants who are determined to be “Qualified” and whose Project(s) are “Approved” will be included on the Master Service Agreement List for the Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Program. This list will include all Approved Projects submitted by Qualified Applicants. (For example, a Qualified Applicant with 3 Approved Projects will have 3 entries on Master Service Agreement List, one for each Project). Applicants included on the Master Service Agreement List will be asked to complete a contract form for each of their Approved Projects. The Master Service Agreement List will be maintained on COMMBUYS.

When DMH has funds available for awarding Grants, DMH will establish a Selection Committee to review all Approved Projects on the Master Service Agreement List that are pending award of funds. The Selection Committee will be appointed by the Assistant Commissioner For Forensic Services, or designee. The Committee may consist of DMH personnel and other non-DMH personnel. The Selection Committee will review each Approved Project and make funding recommendations to the Assistant Commissioner.

Based on the results of the selection process, Grant award recommendations are made to the awarding authority (DMH Assistant Commissioner for Forensic Services). Upon receipt of the Selection Committee’s recommendation, the Awarding Authority will finalize a prioritized list of the Applications for Grant/Contract negotiations. The Awarding Authority shall prioritize Applications based on what he/she determines demonstrates the best overall value to DMH.

Grant negotiations will commence with the Applicant(s) prioritized for award by the Awarding Authority, if any. Negotiations will occur prior to the decision to formally award a Grant/Contract. Negotiations shall be limited to those matters specified in 801 CMR 21.07.

A Grant awarded under this RFA will, at a minimum, consists of the following:

· This RFA, including all attachments;

· Applicant’s response to the RFA, including all attachments;

· Commonwealth Terms and Conditions;

· Standard Contract Form; and

· Final Grant Terms and Conditions which both parties (DMH and Grantee) agree upon. These terms and conditions must be in writing and signed by DMH and the Grantee and are incorporated into a fully executed Statement of Work (SOW) form.

Waiting List

Applicants not selected for award of available funds at any point in time, but who are deemed Qualified and have submitted an approved Project, will remain on the Master Service Agreement List for the Massachusetts Jail/Arrest Diversion Program. Qualified Applicants who’s Projects become Approved will remain eligible for selection by DMH to receive an award of available funds throughout the duration of this RFA.