STATE OF COLORADO,

DEPARTMENT OF LAW

DIVISION OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

RALPH L. CARR, COLORADO JUDICIAL CENTER

1300 Broadway, 8th Floor

Denver, Colorado 80203

Phone (720) 508-6000

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Community-Rooted Opioid Response Grant

Opioid State Share

RFA #LAAA 2026*02

Introduction

Grant Summary

Grant Period

Funding Overview

Project Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

What Projects We Will Fund

Project Focus: Overdose Prevention and Community-Based Engagement

Funding Priorities

Accessibility Requirements

Grant Work Product Expectations

Required Application Components

Component 1: Application Form

Component 2: Project Narrative

Component 3: Budget and Work Plan

Component 4: Organizational History and Fiscal Accountability

How to Apply

Notice of Intent to Apply

Required Documents

Submission Instructions

Questions and Inquiries

Pre-application Webinar(s)

Schedule of Activities

Selection, Evaluation and Awards

Evaluation Process

Evaluation Committee

Post Award Management

Invoicing

Evaluation

Reporting

Appendix A: Glossary

Appendix B: Approved Purposes

Appendix C: Data Metrics

Appendix D: Application Form

Introduction The Colorado Attorney General’s Office, also known as the Department of Law (DOL), represents the people of Colorado and protects the state’s legal interests. The Division of Community Engagement (DCE) is a section in the DOL and serves as Coloradans’ open door and a point of connection to the Attorney General’s Office. DCE builds relationships across the state, listens to community needs, and supports programs that help Colorado communities thrive.

DOL funds authorized by C.R.S. § 24-31-108 serve as the primary source of support for partnerships funded through DCE. These partnerships help organizations throughout Colorado address critical challenges facing our State by developing and funding data-driven, high-impact programs that support long-term community success.

DCE engages with Coloradans on many issues—from improving public safety, to financial literacy and protecting consumers, to addressing the opioid epidemic, protecting our land, air, and water, and many others—through six programs: Outreach and Engagement, Consumer Engagement and Data Services, Safe2Tell Colorado, Opioid Response, Office of Financial Empowerment, and Grants and Partnerships.

The Opioid Response Unit (“ORU”), a program within DCE, is responsible for strategically managing and distributing opioid settlement funds received by the DOL in accordance with the Colorado Opioid Settlement’s Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) (opens new tab). This funding opportunity addresses the portion of the Opioid Settlement funds set aside for the State Share.

Grant Summary The DOL announces the Community-Rooted Opioid Response Grant as the fourth round of funding through the State Share. We are committed to ensuring that the dollars are invested in the communities most deeply impacted by the opioid crisis and support organizations that center the voices of people with lived and living experience.

Community-based, population-specific organizations, also known as “By and For” organizations, are more likely to understand the complex, multi-layered challenges and barriers that individuals from their communities face when attempting to access services.

These organizations are also better equipped to form essential relationships and engage with individuals from their communities. Furthermore, individuals are more inclined to seek services from organizations that reflect their culture, language, and background and who recognize how to adequately support their specific needs through the creation and implementation of culturally responsive services.

Therefore, the DOL seeks applications from ‘‘By and For” nonprofit and non-governmental organizations that have demonstrated experience in serving members of a specific underserved, under-resourced, and/or under-represented population. The DOL https://coag.gov/app/uploads/2021/10/1-Colorado-Opioid-MOU.pdf seeks organizations who have an established record of connecting with and successfully serving people in the community represented. We encourage applications from small, community-based organizations that are rooted in and trusted by the communities they serve.

Eligible applicants must have an annual operating budget of 1.5 million dollars or less and can propose projects designed to prevent substance misuse or reduce the risk of opioid overdoses in these underserved, under-resourced and/or under-represented communities. All services and expenses must be aligned with Exhibit E, the National Opioid Settlements’ list of approved uses for the settlements’ remediation funds.

Grant Period The anticipated funding period is 36 months, from January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2029. The actual funding period will coincide with the award date and grant execution and is subject to vary from the dates above, accordingly.

Funding Overview Up to $2,500,000 is available for this funding period. No individual award will exceed the lesser of $500,000.00 or 25% of the applicant’s annual budget at the time of the application per year of the award.

Example: If an organization has a current annual budget of $500,000, they can apply for up to $500,000 x 25% = $125,000 x 3 years = $375,000 Maximum Request Amount.

Applicants are recommended to only request the amount needed to carry out their proposed project. The DOL considers a variety of factors when issuing grant awards. In all cases, the DOL reserves the right to determine a final award amount, which may be less than what was requested on an Application.

Project Requirements Applicant Eligibility Eligible entities for the Community-Rooted Opioid Response Grant must demonstrate they meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-profit (501(c)3) organization in good standing with the Colorado Secretary of State, and

• Have an annual operating budget of $1,500,000 or less, and

• Identify as a “By and For” Organization; and

• Have been in operation at least 2 years.

“By and For” Organizations are created, led, and sustained by the communities they serve. With missions and histories grounded in supporting a specific population, they are culturally based and meaningfully controlled by individuals from that community. Their programs reflect and uphold the community’s core cultural values.

These communities may include: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people who speak languages other than English, immigrants, refugees, asylees, and/or displaced people; veterans; people experiencing homelessness; rural and frontier (opens new tab); people with lived and living experience of substance use/recovery communities, and people with disabilities.

Note: A nonprofit organization may apply under the umbrella of a fiscal sponsor.

Applications may be declined if the grant recipient cannot demonstrate financial viability or program sustainability, or if the request does not fall within the Approved Purposes.

The following entities are NOT eligible to apply:

• Individuals

• For-profit organizations

• Governmental organizations

• Non-profit organizations with an annual operating budget of more than $1,500,000

What Projects We Will Fund

Project Focus: Overdose Prevention and Community-Based Engagement

The intention of this funding opportunity is to reduce the negative impacts of substance use, prevent substance misuse, and/or reduce the risk of opioid overdose (both fatal and nonfatal) in communities disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis.

Projects funded through this grant must focus on prevention, early intervention, or recovery-oriented activities that improve engagement with individuals at highest risk, including ongoing support, connection and recovery support services.

Examples include but are not limited to:

• Using peer-led and culturally responsive approaches that foster trust and connection to provide outreach to and engagement of individuals at high risk of overdose

• Implementing community-based, evidenced informed prevention efforts such as reduced social access and physical access and stigma reduction.

• Creating or supporting community-based education or intervention services for families, youth, and adolescents at risk for OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH Conditions.

• Providing overdose prevention strategies (e.g., naloxone training, fentanyl test strips, overdose education) for individuals at greatest risk of overdose.

https://hcpf.colorado.gov/sites/hcpf/files/52%20Rural%20%26%20Frontier%20Counties%20%28for%20publication%29.pdf

• Providing navigation and connection to treatment, recovery, or other supportive services, including family, caregiver, or community-based supports that help individuals successfully access and remain engaged in care.

• Delivering community outreach to provide referrals to harm reduction services, treatment, recovery supports, health care or other appropriate services.

• Conducting post-overdose follow-up to reduce risk of future overdose.

Projects may serve youth and young adults at elevated risk of substance use, especially those already experiencing substance use or other significant risk factors, and who face barriers to accessing services or are not well-served by traditional systems.

This funding opportunity is not intended to support large-scale clinical treatment expansion, capital projects, or system infrastructure. Instead, it is designed to support community-rooted organizations in delivering front-line, lifesaving, and engagement-focused services that complement broader statewide investments.

All proposed activities must align with the Approved Uses outlined in Schedule B of Exhibit E (opens new tab) of the National Opioid Settlements. See Appendix B for the specific Approved Purposes that are allowable for this funding opportunity.

Funding Priorities

This funding opportunity prioritizes organizations that serve underserved, under-resourced and/or under-represented communities that have historically experienced barriers to accessing services or have been disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. In the application, you may reference publicly available data, internally collected data, research, or other relevant information to demonstrate any disproportionate impact or barriers to access.

Projects should be community-driven and culturally responsive, reflecting the language, values, and lived experiences of the populations served. Centering the voices of people with lived and living experience is strongly encouraged and should be reflected in project design and implementation. Applications that show the incorporation of lived experience will also be prioritized.

Accessibility Requirements All work performed as a result of this solicitation must comply with all applicable provisions of sections §24-85-101, et. seq, C.R.S., including the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability, as established by the Office of Information Technology pursuant to section §24-85-103(2.5), C.R.S.; all State of Colorado (“State”) technology standards related to technology accessibility; and with Level AA of the most current https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TEVA-Exhibit-E.pdf https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TEVA-Exhibit-E.pdf version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), incorporated in the State’s technology standards.

Grant Work Product Expectations The purpose of grant funds is to benefit the people of Colorado with the goal and intention of making resources, tools, and other work product created using grant funds available to the public. The DOL will retain legal rights to the work product created using grant funds and may share and promote this work across Colorado.

Applicants selected to receive a Grant will be provided with the State’s template Grant Agreement, defining the terms of the grant award. If an Applicant requests modifications to the template agreement terms, the decision to reject, accept, or further negotiate any requested changes will be at the DOL’s sole discretion. In the event an Applicant’s requested modifications violate State or federal law, regulation, or policy, or would otherwise not serve the best interest of the State, the DOL may determine that an application is no longer responsive and therefore ineligible for the award.

Required Application Components The DOL uses Salesforce for application intake. Component 1 will be a form to be completed within the Salesforce portal and Components 2 – 4 must be uploaded as Supporting Documentation in Salesforce.

Component 1: Application Form The Application Form asks for organizational contact information and basic project information. For a preview of the form, see Appendix D, as progress cannot be saved.

Component 2: Project Narrative The Project Narrative template (Attachment 1) can be downloaded from the Salesforce portal. Using the template, answer each of the following questions and adhere to the word count restrictions:

Organization and Population Served

1. State your organization’s mission and vision.

2. Describe the population your organization serves.

3. Describe the makeup of your organization’s board and staff and how that reflects the community served.

4. Explain how the organization has the experience and expertise to provide services that are responsive to the needs of the community being served.

Project Description

5. Describe the specific need/problem this project is designed to address.

6. Provide any relevant quantitative data that demonstrates the population/ community served by your organization is disproportionately impacted by the opioid crisis. You may use publicly available data and/or data your organization has collected. This Community Toolkit (opens new tab) may serve as a resource to help answer this question with links to data such as the Healthy Kids Survey or the Colorado Opioid Overdose Dashboard. It is not required to use data from this source.

7. Describe how the proposed project will address the identified need/problem for the service population and how it will prevent substance misuse, reduce opioid overdoses and/ or connect people with recovery-oriented services.

8. Describe the activities that will be carried out and services that will be provided as part of this project.

9. Describe how the activities and services will be tailored to the service population, including incorporating the perspectives, culture, language, and/or life experiences of those served.

10. Explain how your organization will incorporate the voices of those with lived experience of the opioid crisis into project management, design, and implementation.

11. Explain how your organization will evaluate the effectiveness of the project.

Component 3: Budget and Work Plan Complete the Budget and Work Plan worksheets available as Attachments 2 and 3 to this RFA. Applicants should retain the formatting of the templates.

Budget Guidelines:

• Expenses must be project related. Use the narrative descriptions in the budget to make a clear connection between the requested expense and project activities.

• The template has formulas to assist you in the completion of the budget proposal;

however, you can override the formula if necessary. It is your responsibility to verify the amounts are accurate and total correctly.

• Round expenses to the nearest whole dollar amount.

• Budget categories include Personnel, Materials/Supplies & Operating, Travel, Contracts & Subgrants and Indirect.

o Personnel – The DOL will consider funding a number of positions corresponding with the size of the request and that are essential for implementation of the project.

o Materials/Supplies & Operating – Items should be specific and listed individually. Avoid general line items like “office supplies” where possible, as anything that cannot be clearly tied to the project should be covered in indirect costs.

o Travel – Include calculations in your description (i.e., 500 miles x .56 cents per mile). Any rates must follow your agency’s reimbursement policy.

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d278a3c436464b3f8a141c66beff74f9/page/Data/ o Contract/Subgrants - Use this section for any of the goods and services that are subcontracted or if a community partner will be carrying out project -related activities and incurring the expenses.

Contracts: In the description, explain your procurement process for selecting the specific contractor and include any hourly rates. If you have not selected a specific contractor yet, explain the goods and services that are being procured as well as the procurement process for selecting a contractor. A separate budget is not required for contracts.

Subgrants: Include the total amount of any subawards the primary applicant will be passing through to another recipient for the purpose of carrying out a portion of the project.

o Indirect – Unless your agency has a federally negotiated rate, you are eligible for up to 15% of the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC). Provide the DOL with a copy of your federally negotiated rate, if you are requesting that rate instead. The DOL reserves the right to reject any federally negotiated rate.

• The Project Period is up to three (3) years, and budget proposals must show expenses for each year, separately.

• We encourage you to consider whether part of your work plan and budget should include planning time and whether you wish to budget for less in Year One as implementation begins. Projects will not be penalized for requiring additional planning activities as long as those activities are transparently described in the budget and work plan. We also encourage you to consider what is required to fulfill the data/evaluation requirements of this project and whether to include a budget for evaluation or other data collection tools.

• Budget may include travel expenses for staff to attend a one-day Opioid Abatement Conference each year. This conference typically occurs in the fall. The location has not been determined. Travel expenses, however, may not exceed more than $1,500.00 per year, unless specifically approved by DOL. Reimbursement for travel expenses must be based on actuals.

• Unallowable Expenses include but are not limited to capital expenses, endowments, the purchase of vehicles or real property; lobbying expenses, fundraising costs; care or costs reimbursed by the state, including but not limited to Medicaid, unless they strengthen and supplement these services and do not supplant them; initiatives and activities that are not considered best practice and cause additional harm and/or trauma for people who use drugs, individuals in recovery and/or treatment, and their family members;

annual appeals; clinical or drug trials; supply side, or law enforcement interdiction efforts; support for individuals or the promulgation of religious beliefs; alcohol; and any uses that do not fall under Approved Purposes

Work Plan Guidelines:

• There should be a clear connection between the Work Plan and the Project Narrative.

• The template provides space for you to explain the intended long-term outcomes of the project, the short-term outcomes necessary to support the long-term outcomes and the activities that will be carried out by year to achieve the intended outcomes.

Component 4: Organizational History and Fiscal Accountability Provide the following documentation:

• Upload the organization’s current year budget

• Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State

• Documentation of IRS tax exempt status, such as 501(c)(3) determination letter, or description of the reason that the applicant does not have federal tax-exempt status.

• The DOL reserves the right to request additional financial documents at no additional cost to the DOL.

How to Apply Responses must be submitted as specified in this announcement. Applications that fail to follow all the requirements may not be considered.

Notice of Intent to Apply Complete the Intent to Apply Survey (opens new tab) no later than 11:59 pm MST on June 24, 2026. Entities that do not submit an Intent to Apply Survey are still eligible to submit an application.

The Notice of Intent to Apply will be used solely for planning purposes by the DOL. The survey will cover the following information:

• Organization name

• Contact information

• Eligibility confirmation

• Service population

Required Documents A completed application must include all items described in “Required Application Components.” Please provide each item listed, and all related documents, as separate Microsoft Word, Excel or Adobe PDF files. Title documents clearly. Ensure the following are included:

https://forms.office.com/g/E8VtkKcWv7

Application Form (Salesforce Form) (opens new tab) Project Narrative (See Attachment 1) – retain Word format Budget Worksheet (see Attachment 2) - retain Excel format Work Plan (see Attachment 3) – retain Word format Current Year Budget Certificate of Good Standing from Colorado Secretary of State Non-profit tax-exempt status

Note: If awarded, your organization will be required to provide additional documentation including a Financial Management Questionnaire, a signed W-9, insurance certificates that comply with State requirements and your most recently completed Audit or Financial Review.

Submission Instructions For consideration of award, an applicant for the Community-Rooted Opioid Response Grant RFA #LAAA 2026*02 must submit a completed application via Salesforce Form (opens new tab) no later than 11:59 p.m. MST on July 30, 2026.

Applicants should submit one application with all required attachments via Salesforce link.

Your progress will not be saved. It is advised to review the form questions and download the required attachments well in advance of the submission deadline.

If submitted correctly, a submission confirmation page will load with a confirmation number. It is recommended that you write this number down for your own records. The submitter will also receive a confirmation email. No hard copies of applications will be accepted. Applications submitted after the application submission deadline will not be accepted.

If you are unable to submit your application using the link, please contact the DOL at procurement@coag.gov.

The e-submission process with Salesforce is only for proposal submission. All inquiries, questions, comments, or concerns should be submitted to the procurement contact, not through the e-submission system.

All materials submitted shall become the property of the DOL and will not be returned.

Questions and Inquiries Applicants may make written inquiries via email to obtain clarification of requirements concerning this RFA. All inquiries must be received by the Program contact no later than July 28, 2026 and be sent to:

Program contact name: Mackenzie Owens Program contact email: procurement@coag.gov https://general.coag.gov/s/funding-opportunity-apply?templateid=a2bcs00000LpcLhAAJ https://general.coag.gov/s/funding-opportunity-apply?templateid=a2bcs00000LpcLhAAJ https://general.coag.gov/s/funding-opportunity-apply?templateid=a2bcs00000LpcLhAAJ mailto:procurement@coag.gov mailto:procurement@coag.gov

• Clearly identify your inquiries with:

RFA Number RFA Title The section the inquiry applies to.

• DOL may post Applicant inquiries and DOL responses to the DOL Funding Opportunities website and Colorado VSS. If inquiries are posted, identifying information will be removed to make inquiries anonymized.

• Inquiries received after July 28, 2026 may not be responded to in the DOL’s sole discretion.

• Applicants are not to rely on any other statements that alter any specification or other term or condition of the RFA, unless they have been formally issued by the DOL and posted to DOL’s Funding Opportunities webpage (opens new tab). DOL may also elect to use Colorado VSS to post formal modifications to the RFA.

During the solicitation process for this RFA, all official communication with applicants will be via notices on the DOL program website listed in the schedule of activities. Notices may include any modifications to administrative or performance requirements, answers to inquiries received, and/or clarifications to requirements. Program staff will host “How to Apply” webinars to be announced on the website. Applicants should carefully and regularly monitor the website for publication of modifications to this solicitation and any other information in regard to this RFA. Any DOL announcement of the selected applicant(s) will be via e-mail or in another format, as determined by the DOL, and shall be within the timing and discretion of the DOL.

Applicants are not to contact any other state office or individual regarding this RFA or this project, except for the program contact noted above. Applicants are not to rely on any other statements that may alter any specification or other term or condition of the solicitation outside of the DOL website.

Pre-application Webinar(s) As indicated in the Schedule of Activities, Applicants have the option to attend one or both of the pre-application webinars for clarification on this RFA. Visit the DOL’s Funding Opportunities webpage (opens new tab) for information on how to log-in to join these meetings.

Schedule of Activities Activity Date

RFA Published on Funding Opportunities Page (opens new tab)

June 1, 2026 https://coag.gov/funding-opportunities/ https://coag.gov/funding-opportunities/ https://coag.gov/funding-opportunities/ https://coag.gov/funding-opportunities/ https://coag.gov/funding-opportunities/

Pre-Application Webinar #1 (opens new tab) (Attendance optional)

June 17, 2026

Notice of Intent to Apply (opens new tab) deadline

June 24, 2026

Pre-Application Webinar #2 (opens new tab) (Attendance optional)

July 16, 2026

Applicant Inquiry Deadline July 28, 2026

Application submission deadline July 30, 2026

Evaluation Period (estimated) August - October 2026

Estimated Notification of Award November 2026

Estimated Contract Effective Date January 1, 2027

Selection, Evaluation and Awards Evaluation Process DOL will review each application to determine eligibility and whether the application includes all required information and documentation. Applicants that do not meet all requirements specified above may be disqualified, and their applications will not be considered for a grant award.

The DOL carefully designs scoring and selection process to ensure fair selection of the best qualified applicants. The selection process is described below. The criteria for scoring are in direct correlation to the required application components. Scoring of eligible applications will be determined based on:

17% Problem Description 17% Project Description 33% Lived Experience and Connection to Community 8% Project Evaluation 25% Alignment between narrative, work plan and budget

Evaluation Committee An Evaluation Committee will be established utilizing measures to ensure the integrity of the evaluation process. These measures include the following:

• Selecting committee members who do not have a conflict of interest regarding this solicitation.

• Facilitating the independent review of proposals.

https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/890e7ad6-3fc0-41e0-8226-e4b70e27bda5@811650be-eaf1-453e-a4b4-3e7953f7056b https://forms.office.com/g/E8VtkKcWv7 https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/198ef5ec-3a17-4740-b5a7-ed835a4fd371@811650be-eaf1-453e-a4b4-3e7953f7056b

• Requiring the evaluation of the proposals to be based strictly on the content of the proposals, not the quality of writing.

• Ensuring the fair and impartial treatment of all Applicants.

The objective of the Evaluation Committee is to individually conduct reviews of the proposals that have been submitted, to hold frank and detailed discussions among themselves, and to recommend applicant(s) for award.

The Evaluation Committee will review each qualifying application proposal based on the criteria identified above. The Evaluation Committee’s recommendation for an award of each qualifying proposal will be submitted to the DOL’s Custodial Fund Committee for final review and approval.

Post Award Management Invoicing This funding opportunity operates on a reimbursement basis. If awarded, only actual expenditures in alignment with the approved budget will be reimbursed. All expenditures must be substantiated with source documentation and tracked in organization’s accounting system. Grantees would be responsible for maintaining properly segregated books of grants funds and other funds associated with the work.

Evaluation DOL values evidence-based practice, continuous learning, and program improvement in addressing the opioid crisis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop an evaluation and learning plan that supports their ongoing work. If awarded, the DOL will partner with grantees as feasible to support the development of evaluation plans, support learning, and incorporate evaluation results into the reporting process.

As part of our commitment to building capacity, Grantees will be expected to participate in capacity building activities. At minimum, this includes attendance at the quarterly online Learning Forums. Attendance is highly encouraged at the annual Colorado Opioid Abatement Conference and other technical assistance and peer learning opportunities.

In addition to grant funding, DOL will provide technical assistance and learning communities based on grantee-identified needs to help build stronger organizations.

Reporting Acceptance of these funds indicates agreement to terms of reporting. Grantees are required to submit comprehensive quarterly progress reports throughout the project period using a provided template. Quarterly reporting serves as an essential tool for program monitoring and supports transparency and accountability.

To assist in outcome reporting, Grantees must report on the required learning and progress metrics associated with the project focus area(s). Grantees are encouraged to report on any of the optional learning and progress metrics that align with their individual project. These metrics will be used by the state to assess the reach and short-term outcomes of the awarded project. In quarterly progress reports, Grantees will provide updates on their selected metrics.

On an annual basis, Grantees shall provide additional expenditure information in accordance with DOL requirements, related to any Opioid Funds received from the State Share and subject itself to an accounting as required by the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council. Supplementary information or virtual meetings may be requested as necessary.

Appendix A: Glossary Applicant: The entity that will submit the application, receive the grant award, receive the disbursed funds, and be responsible for funds management and submitting required reporting.

Approved Purpose(s): Approved Purposes are forward‐looking strategies, programming, and services to abate the opioid epidemic as identified by the terms of any Settlement. If a Settlement is silent on Approved Purpose(s), then Approved Purpose(s) shall mean those identified in Exhibit E (opens new tab), the National Opioid Settlements’ list of approved uses for the settlements’ remediation funds.

By and For Organization: “By and For” Organizations are created, led, and sustained by the communities they serve. With missions and histories grounded in supporting a specific population, they are culturally based and meaningfully controlled by individuals from that community. Their programs reflect and uphold the community’s core cultural values.

These communities may include: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, people who speak languages other than English, immigrants, refugees, asylees, and/or displaced people; veterans; people experiencing homelessness; rural and frontier (opens new tab); people with lived and living experience of substance use/recovery communities, and people with disabilities.

Colorado Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): The Colorado MOU (opens new tab) establishes the framework for distributing and sharing these settlement proceeds throughout Colorado. Local governments and the State prepared the Colorado MOU, which prioritizes regionalism, collaboration, and abatement. It is expected that the Colorado MOU will also be used for settlements with other opioid defendants in the future, including any settlement from Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy proceeding.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser signed the MOU on August 26, 2021. The Colorado MOU can be found at www.coag.gov/opioids.

DCE: Division of Community Engagement

DOL: Colorado Department of Law

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC): All direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $50,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award).

MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $50,000.

Opioid Funds: Opioid Funds shall mean damage awards obtained through a Settlement.

https://nationalopioidsettlement.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TEVA-Exhibit-E.pdf https://hcpf.colorado.gov/sites/hcpf/files/52%20Rural%20%26%20Frontier%20Counties%20%28for%20publication%29.pdf http://www.coag.gov/opioids

Opioid Settlement Region: One of the 19 Colorado regions that were configured by local governments to make use of existing local infrastructure and relationships. These regions receive the majority of the Opioid Settlement Funds.

Settlement: "Settlement" shall mean the negotiated resolution of legal or equitable claims against an Opioid Settling Defendant when that resolution has been jointly entered into by the State and the Participating Local Governments, or by any individual Party or collection of Parties that opt to subject their Settlement to this

MOU.

Unless otherwise directed by an order from a United States Bankruptcy Court, “Settlement” shall also include distributions from any liquidation under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or confirmed plan under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code that treats the claims of the State and Local Governments against an Opioid Settling Defendant.

State Share: The State Share, representing 10% of Opioid Settlement Funds, will be used for state-funded initiatives, including the Community-Rooted Opioid Response Grant.

Appendix B: Approved Purposes

All funds must be expended on Approved Purposes as defined by the Colorado Opioid Settlements Memorandum of Understanding in alignment with the List of Opioid Remediation Uses (sometimes referred to as “Exhibit E”) of the National Opioid Settlements. The following list are the Approved Purposes that most likely align with the focus areas for this funding opportunity.

PREVENT MISUSE OF OPIOIDS

Support efforts to discourage or prevent misuse of opioids through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Funding evidence-based prevention programs in schools or evidence-informed school and community education programs and campaigns for students, families, school employees, school athletic programs, parent-teacher and student associations, and others.

2. School-based or youth-focused programs or strategies that have demonstrated effectiveness in preventing drug misuse and seem likely to be effective in preventing the uptake and use of opioids.

3. Create or support community-based education or intervention services for families, youth, and adolescents at risk for OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

4. Support evidence-informed programs or curricula to address mental health needs of young people who may be at risk of misusing opioids or other drugs, including emotional modulation and resilience skills.

PREVENT OVERDOSE DEATHS AND OTHER HARMS (HARM REDUCTION)

Support efforts to prevent or reduce overdose deaths or other opioid-related harms through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies that may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Increased availability and distribution of naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses for first responders, overdose patients, individuals with OUD and their friends and family members, schools, community navigators and outreach workers, persons being released from jail or prison, or other members of the general public.

2. Training and education regarding naloxone and other drugs that treat overdoses for first responders, overdose patients, patients taking opioids, families, schools, community support groups, and other members of the general public.

3. Public education relating to emergency responses to overdoses.

4. Public education relating to immunity and Good Samaritan laws.

5. Syringe service programs and other evidence-informed programs to reduce harms associated with intravenous drug use, including supplies, staffing, space, peer support services, referrals to treatment, fentanyl checking, connections to care, and the full range of harm reduction and treatment services provided by these programs.

6. Expanding access to testing and treatment for infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C resulting from intravenous opioid use.

7. Supporting mobile units that offer or provide referrals to harm reduction services, treatment, recovery supports, health care, or other appropriate services to persons that use opioids or persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

8. Providing training in harm reduction strategies to health care providers, students, peer recovery coaches, recovery outreach specialists, or other professionals that provide care to persons who use opioids or persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

SUPPORT PEOPLE IN TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

Support people in recovery from OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions through evidence-based or evidence-informed programs or strategies that may include, but are not limited to, the programs or strategies that:

1. Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, including housing, transportation, education, job placement, job training, or childcare.

2. Provide counseling, peer-support, recovery case management and residential treatment with access to medications for those who need it to persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

3. Provide community support services, including social and legal services, to assist in deinstitutionalizing persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

4. Support or expand peer-recovery centers, which may include support groups, social events, computer access, or other services for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

5. Provide or support transportation to treatment or recovery programs or services for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

6. Provide employment training or educational services for persons in treatment for or recovery from OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

7. Identify successful recovery programs such as physician, pilot, and college recovery programs, and provide support and technical assistance to increase the number and capacity of high-quality programs to help those in recovery.

8. Engage non-profits, faith-based communities, and community coalitions to support people in treatment and recovery and to support family members in their efforts to support the person with OUD in the family.

9. Support stigma reduction efforts regarding treatment and support for persons with OUD, including reducing the stigma on effective treatment.

10. Create or support culturally appropriate services and programs for persons with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions, including new Americans.

11. Hire or train behavioral health workers to provide or expand any of the services or supports listed above.

CONNECT PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP TO THE HELP THEY NEED (CONNECTIONS

TO CARE)

1. Develop and support best practices on addressing OUD in the workplace.

ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF PREGNANT OR PARENTING WOMEN AND THEIR

FAMILIES, INCLUDING BABIES WITH NEONATAL ABSTINENCE SYNDROME

1. Provide child and family supports for parenting women with OUD and any cooccurring SUD/MH conditions.

2. Provide enhanced family support and child care services for parents with OUD and any co-occurring SUD/MH conditions.

3. Provide enhanced support for children and family members suffering trauma as a result of addiction in the family; and offer trauma-informed behavioral health treatment for adverse childhood events.

Appendix C: Data Metrics Grantees will report on progress reporting metrics that align with where their project falls along the continuum of care (prevention, overdose prevention, recovery, etc.). This document outlines the required metrics to be reported by focus area as well as optional metrics if they align with your project.

Note: Guidance and templates will be provided to support reporting. Metrics are in Pilot phase and subject to minor changes.

Prevention

Required

1) Children and youth prevention programs established: number of prevention-focused programs, campaigns, coalitions, or community resources that have been newly established, expanded, or sustained.

a) Reported by whether newly established, expanded, or sustained

b) Reported by type

c) Reported by areas served

d) Reported by primary population(s) served

2) Prevention reach: number of individuals reached through prevention efforts (unduplicated counts).

a) Reported by demographics (as available)

Optional

3) Evidence-based school programs: number of schools that have newly adopted and have begun implementing a prevention curriculum that uses evidence-based or evidence-informed criteria.

Overdose Education and/or Naloxone Distribution

Required

4) Naloxone distribution: number of doses of naloxone distributed.

a) Reported by setting

Optional

5) Naloxone availability: number/percent of syringe service programs and harm reduction organizations who report having access to “as much naloxone as they need.”

6) Naloxone leave-behind programs: number of newly established naloxone leave-behind programs.

7) Naloxone in critical times: number/percent of individuals who receive a naloxone kit:

a) After public safety personnel/first responder response for an overdose

b) After a visit to an emergency department for an overdose

c) Upon release from jail/prison

8) Overdose reversals: total number of overdose reversals reported.

Harm Reduction

Required

9) Harm reduction programs: number of newly established, expanded, or sustained harm reduction programs (fixed sites, mobile units, pop-up locations).

a) Reported by whether newly established, expanded, or sustained

b) Reported by areas served

10) Harm reduction supply reach: number of individuals reached through the distribution of harm reduction supplies other than naloxone (syringes, smoking kits, wound care, drug testing strips, etc.) (unduplicated counts).

a) Reported by demographics (as available)

Optional

11) Harm reduction referrals: number/percent of individuals who received referrals to other services.

a) Reported by type of service referrals

Recovery Support Services

Required

12) Recovery services providers: number of recovery services providers newly established, expanded, or sustained.

a) Reported by whether newly established, expanded, or sustained

b) Reported by area served

c) Reported by type

d) Reported by whether licensed Recovery Support Services Organizations

(RSSO)

13) Recovery and support service reach: number of individuals who received recovery supports or other supportive services (such as childcare, transportation, employment assistance, housing, family services) (unduplicated counts).

a) Reported by type of service referrals

b) Reported by demographics (as available)

Optional

14) Recovery friendly workplaces: number of new organizations who have joined the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative and/or received recovery-friendly training.

a) Reported by area served

b) Reported by category (certified, received training, etc.)

15) Peer support specialists: number of peer recovery specialists, peer support, or peer navigators newly employed or integrated into treatment and recovery programs.

a) Reported by credential

b) Reported by demographics (as available)

16) Stigma systems-change: number of organizations that have adopted new practices, programs, or policies to address stigma.

17) Recovery assessment: number of recovery service providers who have adopted and begun implementing a standardized assessment to examine recovery capital.

18) Service linkages: number of new coordination protocols implemented between treatment, recovery, and other supportive agencies/services.

19) Recovery capital: number/percent of individuals who have improved recovery capital (based on an increase in a standardized assessment tool such as BARC-10).

a) Reported by demographics (as available)

Appendix D: Application Form The Application Form in Salesforce will ask for the following information:

• Applicant Details and Contact Information o Organization Name and EIN o Year Organization was established o Organization website is an option but not requirement to provide.

o Application Contact who will be responsible for coordinating with DOL throughout the application process; this person may be the same or different from one of the primary contacts during project implementation if awarded.

o Mailing Address (physical address also provided if different from mailing).

o A Project Director/Principal Representative who will be responsible for coordinating with the DOL throughout project implementation and grant management processes.

o A Fiscal Contact who will be responsible for responding to budgetary or funding inquiries from the State.

o An Authorized Signer who will be responsible for obligating a Grantee through their authorized signature on the Grant or Grant Modifications.

o Note: An individual may fill more than one of these roles, but one individual may not fill all three roles.

• Project Details o Project Title o Proposal Overview/Executive Summary: Provide a brief description of the proposed project and goals. There is a 1200-character (with spaces) limit in space provided (approximately 150 words)

• Project Budget o Current Annual Operating budget of the applicant o Total Amount Requested: There will be a space to indicate the total three-year request as well as a breakdown by each year.

• Population Focus o Service Population: The project must serve one or more of the underserved, under-resourced and/or under-represented communities.

listed in the RFA under Applicant Eligibility (Pages 4-5) o Target geographical region: Indicate the geographic region that your project will serve. If your project aligns with one or more of the 19 Opioid Settlement Regions, indicate which one(s). Otherwise, write the specific area served such as Statewide, the county/counties served, or the city/municipality served.