PHPA 3395 RCC RFA eMMA.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT (SGA)

(COMPETITIVE)

PROCUREMENT ID NUMBER – PHPA 3395/BPM054294

Issue Date: November 24, 2025

Optimizing Rape Crisis Center Services and

Programs to Prevent Sexual Violence

NOTICE

A Prospective Applicant that has received this document from the Maryland Department of Health, or that has received this document from a source other than the Procurement Officer, and that wishes to assure receipt of any changes or additional materials related to this RFA, should immediately contact the

Procurement Officer and provide the Prospective Applicant’s name and mailing address so that addenda to the RFA or other communications can be sent to the Prospective Applicant.

09/2024

STATE OF MARYLAND

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

RFA KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY SHEET

Request for Applications: Optimizing Rape Crisis Center Services and Programs to

Prevent Sexual Violence

Solicitation Number: PHPA 3395/BPM054294

RFA Issue Date: November 24, 2025

RFA Issuing Office: Maryland Department of Health

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

Procurement Officer: Augustus Woyah

Maryland Department of Health

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

201 W Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: (410) 767-5039 e-mail: augustus.woyah@maryland.gov

Grant Monitor: Jada Ledbetter

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

Center for Injury and Violence Prevention

201 W Preston Street

Baltimore, MD 21201

Pre-Application Conference: December 4, 2025, 10:00 AM EST Local Time

Questions due date and time: January 2, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Local Time

Applications are to be sent to: eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA)

(https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?Return

Url=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage). For questions and/or technical assistance, please contact emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov. In addition, you may visit https://procurement.maryland.gov for additional information.

Closing Date and Time: January 9, 2026, 2:00 PM EST Local Time mailto:augustus.woyah@maryland.gov https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage https://emma.maryland.gov/page.aspx/en/usr/login?ReturnUrl=%2fpage.aspx%2fen%2fbuy%2fhomepage mailto:emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov https://procurement.maryland.gov/

SECTION 1 - GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Summary Statement

1.1.1 The Maryland Department of Health (MDH or the Department), Center for Injury and Violence

Prevention, Rape, and Sexual Assault Prevention Program, is issuing this Request for

Applications (RFA) to provide funding to up to five (5) rape crisis centers in Maryland. These rape crisis centers will be competitively awarded to implement one public health approach to prevent sexual violence.

1.1.2 It is the State’s intention to obtain services, as specified in this RFA, from an Agreement between the selected Applicant and the State. The anticipated duration of services to be provided under this Agreement is April 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026, with annual renewals through January 31, 2029.

1.1.3 The Department intends to make up to five (5) awards as a result of this RFA, not to exceed

$18,150 per rape crisis center for the initial award (4/1/2026 - 6/30/2026), with annual renewals no greater than $84,702 per rape crisis center per year (7/1/2026 - 6/30/2027 and 7/1/2027 -

6/30/2028), plus a final partial year award not to exceed $54,451 (7/1/2028 - 1/31/2029).

1.1.4 Applicants, either directly or through their subcontractor(s), must be able to provide all services and meet all the requirements requested in this solicitation and the successful Applicant shall remain responsible for performance regardless of subcontractor participation in the work.

1.2 Contract Type

1.2.1 The Agreement resulting from this solicitation shall be a Fixed Price Contract.

1.3 Procurement Officer

1.3.1 The sole point of contact in the State for purposes of this solicitation prior to the award of any

Agreement is the Procurement Officer at the address listed below:

Augustus Woyah

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

201 W Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: (410) 767-5039 e-mail: augustus.woyah@maryland.gov

1.3.2 The Department may change the Procurement Officer at any time by written notice.

1.4 Grant Monitor

mailto:augustus.woyah@maryland.gov

1.4.1 The Grant Monitor is:

Jada Ledbetter

Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

Center for Injury and Violence Prevention

201 Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

1.4.2 The Department may change the Grant Monitor at any time by written notice.

1.5 eMaryland Marketplace Advantage

1.5.1 Each Applicant is requested to indicate its eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) vendor number in the Transmittal Letter (cover letter) submitted at the time of its application submission to this RFA.

1.5.2 eMMA is an electronic commerce system administered by the Maryland Department of General

Services. The RFA and associated materials, the solicitation and summary of the Pre-Proposal

Conference, Applicant questions and the Procurement Officer’s responses, addenda, and other solicitation-related information will be provided via eMMA.

1.5.3 In order to receive a contract award, a vendor must be registered on eMMA. Registration is free.

Go to https://procurement.maryland.gov/, click on “Register” to begin the process, and then follow the prompts.

1.6 Questions

1.6.1 Written questions from prospective Applicants will be accepted by the Procurement Officer.

Questions to the Procurement Officer shall be submitted via e-mail to the following e-mail address: augustus.woyah@gmail.com. Please identify in the subject line the Solicitation Number and Title.

1.6.2 Questions are requested to be submitted no later than the due date indicated on the RFA Key

Information Summary Sheet. The Procurement Officer, based on the availability of time to research and communicate an answer, shall decide whether an answer can be given before the

Application due date.

1.7 Application Due (Closing) Date and Time

1.7.1 Applications, in the number and form set forth in Section 4.2 “Applications' ' must be received by the Procurement Officer, in eMaryland Marketplace (eMMA) or the RFA email address

RFA.PHPA@maryland.gov, no later than 2:00 pm EST Local Time on January 9, 2026, in order to be considered. If emailing, please identify in the subject line the Solicitation Number and Title.

1.7.2 Requests for an extension of this time or date will not be granted. Applications received after the https://procurement.maryland.gov/ mailto:RFA.PHPA@maryland.gov due date and time listed in this section will not be considered. Questions regarding this solicitation should be directed (By e-mail only, no phone calls will be accepted) to the

PROCUREMENT OFFICER.

1.7.3 Applications may be modified or withdrawn by written notice received by the Procurement

Officer before the time and date set forth in this section for receipt of Application. Multiple and/or alternate Applications will not be accepted.

1.8 Award Basis

1.8.1 The Grant shall be awarded to responsible Applicants submitting Applications that have been determined to be the most advantageous to the State, considering price and evaluation factors set forth in this RFA, for providing the activities as specified in this RFA. See RFA Section 5 for further award information.

1.9 Revisions to the RFA

1.9.1 If it becomes necessary to revise this RFA before the due date for Applications, the Department shall endeavor to provide addenda to all prospective Applicants that were sent this RFA, or which are otherwise known by the Procurement Officer to have obtained this RFA.

1.9.2 Acknowledgment of the receipt of all addenda to this RFA issued before the Application due date shall be included in the Transmittal Letter accompanying the Applicant’s Project Narrative.

Acknowledgement of the receipt of addenda to the RFA issued after the Application due date shall be in the manner specified in the addendum notice. Failure to acknowledge receipt of an addendum does not relieve the Applicant from complying with the terms, additions, deletions, or corrections set forth in the addendum.

1.10 Cancellations

1.10.1 The State reserves the right to cancel this RFA, accept or reject any and all Applications, in whole or in part, received in response to this RFA, waive or permit the cure of minor irregularities, and conduct discussions with all qualified or potentially qualified applicants in any manner necessary to serve the best interests of the State. The State reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to award a Grant based upon the written Applications received without discussions or negotiations.

1.10.2 In the event a government entity proposes and receives the recommendation for award, the contract, application and solicitation for this RFA may be canceled, and the award processed in accordance with COMAR 21.01.03.01.A(4). If the services that are the subject of the RFA are currently being provided under an interagency agreement with a public institution of higher education and the State determines that the services can be provided more cost effectively by the public institution of higher education, then the RFA may be canceled in accordance with Md.

Code Ann., State Finance and Procurement Art., § 3- 207(b)(2).

SECTION 2 – MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Applicant Mandatory Requirements

The Applicant must provide proof with its application that the following Mandatory Requirements have been met:

2.1.1 The Applicant shall be a social organization as defined per Section 7-402 of the State Finance and

Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland or a local, state government agency, public college or state university.

2.1.2 For social organization Applicants (not local, state government agency, public college, or state university), the Applicant must be a nonprofit organization, classified by the IRS as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications must include attachments of the following documentation from the applicant:

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: Documentation of tax-exempt status of the Applicant or the Applicant’s fiscal sponsor (i.e., IRS tax exempt status determination letter)

2.1.3 The Applicant must be a Rape Crisis Program in Maryland that meets the requirements of

Maryland COMAR regulations under the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and

Victim Services (see COMAR Chapter 01.04.02. Rape Crisis Program). The directory of programs that meet these regulations is maintained by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual

Assault (MCASA). As proof of meeting this requirement, the Applicant shall submit a screenshot of their Rape Crisis Center listing on MCASA’s list of member programs.

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

https://mcasa.org/assets/files/MD-Rape-Crisis-DV-Crime-Vic-Srvcs-Program-Regs2019.pdf https://mcasa.org/survivors/find-a-rape-crisis-center https://mcasa.org/survivors/find-a-rape-crisis-center

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 Background and Purpose

The State is issuing this solicitation for the purposes of funding up to five (5) rape crisis centers in

Maryland to implement one public health approach focused on preventing sexual violence.

According to the CDC, the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program works to prevent sexual violence by providing funding to state and territorial health departments in all 50 states, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and state, territorial, and tribal sexual assault coalitions.

RPE recipients work collaboratively with multi-sector partners, including educational institutions, rape crisis centers, community organizations, and other state agencies to guide the implementation and evaluation of their state sexual violence (SV) prevention efforts.

Under the statutory authority of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022, Section

393A of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 280b-1b] and (d)(4)), MD’s RPE program aims to: (1) build RPE program and partner capacity to facilitate and monitor the implementation of SV prevention programs, practices, and policies; (2) support local and state-level implementation of community- and societal-level programs, practices, and policies to prevent SV; (3) support the implementation of data-driven, comprehensive, evidence-based SV primary prevention strategies; and (4) conduct data to action activities to inform changes or adaptations to SV strategies.

The goal of this project is to reduce risk factors and promote protective factors to prevent sexual violence within a community. Communities can include any defined population with shared characteristics and environments, including schools, neighborhoods, cities, organizations (e.g., workplaces), or institutions. Approaches that operate by modifying characteristics of the community, rather than individuals within the community, are considered community-level approaches.

To achieve this goal, the Maryland Department of Health will award up to five (5) rape crisis centers to implement a strategy, one of the focus areas from CDC’s Sexual Violence Prevention Resource to Action:

1) Strengthening Economic Supports;

2) Creating Protective Environments; OR

3) Promoting Social Norms that Protect Against Violence

Applicants will choose a focus area and at least one approach that will be used to advance the chosen strategy. Focus Areas and aligned approaches are listed and described below in Section 3.2.1.2. In the technical response, applicants will describe the activities (e.g. program, policy, or practice) that will be executed to achieve the intended outcome of the approach.

EXAMPLE. For the strategy or Focus Area, Promoting Social Norms that Protect Against

Violence, a project may use the approach to “Mobilize men and boys as allies” to change social and peer-group norms that condone or promote violence. Activities under this approach may include coaching or training young men to model and promote respectful, non-violent, and healthy relationships.

3.2 Scope of Work - Requirements

The Applicant shall meet the following:

3.2.1 General Requirements

3.2.1.1 The Americans with Disabilities Act: The Americans with Disabilities Act (https:

www.ada.gov/) protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in services, programs, and activities. Accessibility and inclusion of diverse populations are essential to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations. Contractors must comply with all ADA requirements in their work to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable populations are met. This includes, but is not limited to:

● facilities and any venues used for meetings/conferences are accessible.

● requested accommodations are provided in a timely manner; and

● written and printed materials developed in accessible formats (easy to read, large print, etc.), or providing access to alternative formats.

3.2.1.2 Implement an approach that aligns with one the CDC identified Focus Areas: 1) Strengthening

Economic Supports; 2) Creating Protective Environments; or 3) Promoting Social Norms that Protect

Against Violence. Each Focus Area is described below with aligned approaches. Applicants must choose to implement at least one of the approaches listed below.

Strategy 1: Strengthening Economic Supports

Strengthening economic supports addresses poverty and economic security within communities to reduce the risk of SV.

Approaches aligned with strengthening economic supports operate by providing opportunities for education, employment, stable housing, financial stability, and food security. Such approaches can involve, for example, changes to institutional or organizational practices and policies, and changes to accessibility of income support programs and/or professional development opportunities in an effort to protect entire communities against SV. Applicants may choose to implement any of the following approaches:

Approach 1: Strengthen household financial security. This approach includes the provision of income support opportunities (e.g. family assistance programs or child care support) and income-generating opportunities (e.g.

entrepreneurship support) to empower and support individuals and families to directly address risk factors.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 1: Strengthen household financial security that may be conducted:

1. Partnering with education, trades, and employment programs to increase opportunities for community members to make a liveable wage

2. Establishing or enhancing partnerships to provide community members with business training, financial education, and financial products and services to support their entrepreneurial efforts

Approach 2: Family-Friendly policies. This approach includes improving the balance between work and family responsibilities, while helping to ensure economic security. This approach can involve establishing or enhancing paid leave policies and other workplace flexibility policies, to help buffer against risk for multiple forms of violence.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 2: Family-Friendly policies that may be conducted:

1. Organizational efforts to develop and implement a system that allows employees to accrue and use paid leave

2. Providing educational information to community leaders about the research, realities, impacts, and benefits of paid leave policies as it relates to sexual violence prevention

Strategy 2: Creating Protective Environments

Creating protective environments is a necessary step towards achieving community-level reductions in SV. Such approaches can involve, for example, changes to policies, institutional structures, or the social and physical environment in an effort to reduce risk characteristics and increase protective factors that affect the entire community. Applicants may choose to implement any of the following approaches:

Approach 1: Improve safety and monitoring in schools. This approach includes monitoring and modifying physical and social characteristics of school environments to reduce SV by addressing areas where students feel less safe, to identify safe spaces and staff support for students, and to create an atmosphere of intolerance for harassment and violence.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 1: Improve safety and monitoring in schools that may be conducted:

1. Partnering with a local school or college/university to modify or adapt on-campus buildings and environments to increase monitoring in areas perceived as unsafe

2. Partnering with a local school, agency, and/or other community-based organization to address harmful community conditions surrounding a school campus (ex. poor lighting, no sidewalks along school routes) by providing needed services

Approach 2: Improve organizational environments/establish and apply organizational policies. Organizational policies address risk factors for SV and create healthy organizational climates. These policies are designed to help individuals know what is expected of them with respect to standards of behavior and can prevent bullying and sexual harassment.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 2: Improve organizational environments/establish and apply organizational policies that may be conducted:

1. Organizational efforts to create healthy workplace climates, change organizational culture, and eliminate tolerance for sexual harassment

2. Providing training and support to community organizations on workplace sexual harassment and workplace policy development and enforcement

Approach 3: Addressing community-level risk factors/modifying the physical and/or social environment. This approach addresses aspects of neighborhood and other community settings to make SV less likely by changing, enacting, or enforcing laws, regulations, or organizational policies (e.g., alcohol policies) or by changing the physical environment, economic or social incentives (or consequences) for behavior, or other characteristics of the community (e.g., ability to monitor and respond to problem behavior, increased social controls).

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 3: Addressing community-level risk factors/modifying the physical and/or social environment that may be conducted:

1. Establishing/reclaiming and maintaining neighborhood green spaces (ex. cleaning parks or public gardens) to create sustainable and healthier environments

2. Establishing, enhancing, and/or expanding policies to regulate or restrict alcohol purchasing and consumption

Strategy 3: Promoting Social Norms that Protect Against Violence

Promoting social norms that protect against violence involves changing group-level beliefs and behaviors (norms) that accept or allow indifference to violence. Approaches that operate by addressing norms that support or condone violent behavior in intimate and other relationships, and promoting protective norms are necessary to prevent SV. Such approaches can involve, for example, changes in peer support for violence, or bystander behaviors in effort to reduce acceptability and perpetration of SV. Applicants may choose to implement any of the following approaches:

Approach 1: Bystander approaches. These approaches empower young people to intervene in their peer groups by speaking up against offensive language or behaviors that promote violence, reinforcing positive social norms, and offering help or support in situations where violence may occur or has occurred. These approaches are implemented through training programs to increase participant confidence in their own ability to intervene and prevent violence.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 1: Bystander Approaches that may be conducted:

1. Implementing or adapting the Green Dot Program bystander intervention training at local schools, colleges/universities, or community organizations/workplaces

2. Collaborating with local bar or night-life businesses to provide bystander intervention training for staff members

Approach 2: Mobilizing men and boys as allies. This approach focuses on engaging men and boys as allies, modeling positive masculinity, and changing social and peer-group norms related to relationships and violence.

Examples of activities aligned with Approach 2: Mobilizing men and boys as allies that may be conducted:

1. Developing a new or enhancing an existing mentorship program for adolescent boys to challenge existing social norms that promote violence

2. Partner with athletic coaches from local high schools or colleges/universities to teach and encourage healthy relationship behaviors for their athletes and change social norms that contribute to violence

A. Applications shall be submitted using the format specified in Exhibit E - Project Narrative

Prevention Strategy Form: Technical Response and Work Plan Template. The purpose of this form is to capture information about the approach that your organization proposes to implement using Rape Prevention and Education program funding. Applicants must respond to

ALL prompts and components in the following sections:

1. SECTION 1: Description of Implementation Effort

2. SECTION 2: Implementation Work Plan

3. SECTION 3: Population of Focus and Setting

4. SECTION 4: Staffing & Organizational Capacity

5. SECTION 5: Reporting and Data Collection

6. SECTION 6: Collaborations

7. SECTION 7: Additional Information

B. Applications shall identify the chosen approach that aligns with one of the CDC Focus Areas.

Applications shall provide an answer to the following application components in Exhibit E

Section 1, 2, and 3:

1. Select the approach to be implemented. Describe the implementation effort by providing a short project title and a description of the activities you will conduct that are aligned with your chosen approach.

2. Submit an implementation work plan including the objectives of the approach selected, how the objectives will be met and measured, and responsibilities of key personnel implementing the approach.

3. Identify the population(s) and setting of focus, providing rationale for selecting subpopulation(s) and the setting, and a description of the setting.

C. Once selected, the Grantee shall implement activities based on the project narrative, implementation work plan, and population of focus and setting submitted in Exhibit E Sections 1-

3.

3.2.1.3 Identify and use qualified personnel with background and training in areas including community outreach, engagement, and/or leadership; public health or health education; and/or violence prevention and response. Previous experience managing programs and implementing community projects should be described.

A. Applications shall provide an answer to or documentation of the following application components in Exhibit E Section 4 or separately (when requested):

1. Resume for the primary point of contact for programmatic planning, implementation, and oversight as a separate document with the Project Narrative. If more than one individual is responsible, multiple resumes may be submitted.

2. Brief staff bios of key personnel and their relevant qualifications and previous related experience, and their role in the proposed project.

3. Description of the organizational capacity to manage funds, personnel, and project activities that align with best practices in recruitment and retention, accounting, purchasing/procurement, and data collection for reporting purposes.

4. Description of community engagement methods and track record of engaging and centering underserved communities and those most at risk for sexual violence victimization.

B. Once selected, the Grantee shall:

1. Use qualified personnel identified in Exhibit E Section 4 to implement prevention program activities.

2. Notify MDH of changes made to key personnel and project-related senior staff and organizational leadership.

3. For changes to key personnel, submit a resume or brief bio describing their qualifications

(education, training, and experience, etc.) or a position description (if position is vacant).

3.2.1.4 Collect and report programmatic progress according to the invoice and reporting schedule in

Section 3.3. MDH will provide templates for reporting purposes and technical assistance is available.

A. Applications shall provide an answer to the following application components in Exhibit E

Section 5:

1. Describe how the organization will collect and track programmatic data to measure project activities conducted and number of people reached.

2. Estimate the anticipated primary and secondary reach for the first program year (1/1/26 -

6/30/26).

3. Identify what data points can be tracked to determine community-level changes (i.e., partnerships and outcomes of partner activities, organizational policies established, average changes in income or employment in the county).

4. Describe the type of support your program may need to report, collect, and/or analyze data. Note: Technical assistance will be available to the selected recipients to support data collection and analysis.

B. Once selected, the Grantee shall:

1. Submit invoices and progress reports to the MDH Grant Monitor twice per year, typically in Summer/early Fall and again in the Winter/Early Spring.

a. Progress reports shall include summaries of activities and efforts, successes, challenges or barriers that occurred in the reporting period.

2. Collaborate with MDH to report program activities and programmatic data to the CDC once a year in the Fall for activities and progress made between August 1 of the previous year and July 31 of the current year.

a. The Grantee will be asked about changes to implementation plan (if any), adaptations (if any), types of activities performed (executing, planning, coordinating, training, monitoring, collecting/using data, and other activities), setting updates, and primary and secondary reach.

3. Respond to reasonable programmatic data requests for MDH within three (3) business days. (Note: only aggregate numbers and qualitative descriptive data will be requested.

No personally identifiable or individual-level data will be required.)

4. Request technical assistance from the MDH evaluation team to further develop and/or refine data collection tools and measures (if needed).

3.2.1.5 Engage in state-level RPE / SV prevention activities in partnership with MDH. Collaborative prevention activities are separated between required and encouraged, and are listed below in Section

3.2.1.5.B.

A. Application shall provide an answer to the following application components in Exhibit E

Section 6:

1. Describe the methods and processes that will be used to engage in required collaborative activities with MDH, evaluators, and training and technical assistance (TTA) providers as specified in the Scope of Work.

2. Describe interest and extent of anticipated participation in required and/or strongly encouraged activities.

3. Identify staff who will lead/engage in these efforts.

B. Once selected, the Grantee shall participate in required and/or encouraged RPE/SV prevention activities:

Collaborative Prevention Activities

The selected Applicant is required to participate in these activities and may include participation in collaborative activities in their proposal and budget:

1) Participate in MDH’s community of practice for SV prevention (called RISEMD), which includes meetings and webinars approximately every two months (up to half of meetings may be in-person). Active participation also includes reading monthly emails and member surveys.

2) Contribute input to inform MDH’s RPE state-level logic model, State Action Plan, and State Evaluation Plan

(annually, if needed).

3) Participate in site visits conducted by MDH and its evaluator (site visits are typically every two years).

4) Participate with other RPE sub-recipients, MDH, and the evaluator to identify one or more programmatic indicator(s) that can be used by all funded partners to measure state-level outcomes. For planning purposes, it is anticipated that this will be a three part process consisting of two virtual meetings and one in-person meeting beginning in Spring 2026

The selected Applicant is encouraged to participate in these activities and may include participation in collaborative activities in their proposal and budget:

1) Joining RISEMD workgroups (which can include serving as a workgroup member or co-chair, presenting information, and/or providing training).

2) Attending the annual Maryland Women of Color

Network Conference (typically held on a single day in

November, in-person, at Bowie State University).

3) Attending CDC-sponsored TTA activities, such as

Prevent Connect and National Sexual Violence Resource

Center (NSVRC) webinars and the National Sexual Assault

Conference (NSAC)

4) Presenting and disseminating SV prevention activities at state and national conferences/meetings

5) Other collaborative activities as identified and agreed upon between the selected Applicant and the MDH

Agreement Monitor

3.3 Invoicing

3.3.1 General

(a) All invoices shall include the following information:

● Grantee name;

● Remittance address;

● Federal taxpayer identification number (or if sole proprietorship, the individual’s social security number);

● Invoice period;

● Invoice date;

● Invoice number

● State assigned Contract number;

● State assigned (Blanket) Purchase Order number(s);

● Goods or services provided; and

● Amount due.

Invoices submitted without the required information cannot be processed for payment until the Contractor provides the required information.

(b) The Department reserves the right to reduce or withhold Grant payment in the event the

Grantee does not provide the Department with all required deliverables within the time frame specified in the Grant or in the event that the Grantee otherwise materially breaches the terms and conditions of the Grant until such time as the Grantee brings itself into full compliance with the Grant.

3.3.2 Invoice Submission Schedule

The Grantee shall submit invoices in accordance with the following schedule:

Invoice Name Activity Dates Due Date Amount Deliverable

Program Year 1

Invoice 1 April 1, 2026 -

May 15, 2026

May 30, 2026 Up to 40% of annual award

Invoice

Finalized Workplan

Program Year 1

Invoice 2

May 16 - June 30, August 1, 2026 Up to 60% of annual award

Invoice

Financial Report

Progress Report

Program Year 2

Invoice 1

July 1, 2026 -

January 31, 2027

March 1, 2027

Up to 60% of annual award

Progress report

Program Year 2

February 1 - June

30, 2027

August 1, 2027 Up to 40% of annual award Invoice

Financial Report

Progress Report

Program Year 3

July 1, 2027 -

January 31, 2028

March 1, 2028

Up to 60% of

Progress Report

Program Year 3

February 1 - June

30, 2028

August 1, 2028 Up to 40% of annual award Invoice

Financial Report

Progress Report

Program Year 4

July 1, 2028 -

January 31, 2029

March 1, 2029

Up to 100% of

Invoice

Final Financial Report Progress Report

End of Year Reporting Schedule

Deliverable Due Date Activity Dates

Year End Report 1 September/October 2026

Date TBA

Covers all activities between 4/1/26-7/31/26

Year End Report 2 September/October 2027

Date TBA

Covers all activities between 8/1/26-7/31/27

Year End Report 3 September/October 2028

Date TBA

Covers all activities between 8/1/27-7/31/28

Year End Report 4 February/March 2029

Date TBA

Covers all activities between 8/1/28 - 1/31/29

3.3.3 Insurance Requirements - The recommended awardee must provide current certificate(s) of insurance with the prescribed coverages, limits and requirements set forth in this section within five (5) Business Days from notice of recommended award. During the period of performance for multi-year contracts, the Grantee shall provide certificates of insurance annually, or as otherwise directed by the Contract Monitor. Any insurance furnished as a condition of the Contract shall be issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Maryland.

3.3.3.1 Subcontractor Insurance - The Grantee shall require any subcontractors to obtain and maintain comparable levels of coverage and shall provide the

Contract Monitor with the same documentation as is required of the

Contractor.

3.3.3.2 The following type(s) of insurance and minimum amount(s) of coverage are required:

A. Commercial General Liability - of $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, property damage, and personal and advertising injury and $3,000,000 annual aggregate. The minimum limits required herein may be satisfied through any combination of primary and umbrella/excess liability policies.

SECTION 4 – APPLICATION FORMAT

4.1 Two Part Submission

4.1.1 Applicants shall submit applications in separate volumes:

▪ Volume I – Project Narrative

▪ Volume II – Budget Justification/Narrative

4.2 Applications

4.2.1 Applications must be submitted to eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), or the RFA email address RFA.PHPA@maryland.gov. The Procurement Officer will not accept submission after the date and exact time stated in the Key Information Summary Sheet.

4.2.1.1 The submission subject line shall state the RFA Title and PHPA number and either

Project Narrative or Budget Narrative.

4.2.1.2 Two Part Submission:

A. Project Narrative (See Section 4.3)

B. Budget Narrative (See Section 4.4)

4.2.2 Applications will be shown only to State employees, members of the Evaluation Committee, or other persons deemed by the Department to have a legitimate interest in them.

*All information submitted as part of this proposal is subject to release under the Public

Information Act (PIA). If you would like the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to consider redactions in the event that your proposal is subject to a PIA request, submit a proposed PIA copy including justifications for each redaction and under what statute that justification is qualified for redaction.

4.3 Volume I – Project Narrative

Note: No pricing information is to be included in the Project Narrative (Volume 1). Pricing information is to be included only in the Budget Justification/Narrative (Volume II).

4.3.1 The Project Narrative shall include the following documents and information in the order specified as follows:

4.3.1.1 Transmittal Letter:

● Applicant;

● Solicitation Title and Solicitation Number that the Proposal is in response to;

● Signature, typed name, and title of an individual authorized to commit the

Applicant to its Proposal;

● Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) of the Applicant, or if a single individual, that individual’s Social Security Number (SSN);

mailto:RFA.PHPA@maryland.gov

● Applicant’s eMMA number;

● Applicant’s MBE certification number (if applicable);

● Applicant’s SBR number (if applicable) – please contact eMMA at 410-767-1492 if you don’t know your number.

4.3.1.2 Scope of Work/Work Plan shall include the Scope of Work, including the Work Plan

(as described in Section 3.2).

4.3.1.3 Mandatory Requirements Documentation

4.3.1.4 Applicant Technical Response to RFA Requirements and Proposed Work Plan:

a. The Applicant shall address each Scope of Work requirement (Section 3.2) in its

Project Narrative and describe how its proposed services, including the services of any proposed subcontractor(s), will meet or exceed the requirement(s). If the

State is seeking Applicant agreement to any requirement(s), the Applicant shall state its agreement or disagreement. Any paragraph in the Project Narrative that responds to a Scope of Work (Section 3.2) requirement shall include an explanation of how the work will be done. Any exception to a requirement, term, or condition may result in having the Application classified as not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award or the Applicant deemed non-responsive.

b. Applicant shall acknowledge they have read the American with Disabilities Act

Statement in Section 3.2 and will meet all requirements.

4.3.1.5 Signed W-9 with Contact Person Names and Phone Number

4.3.1.6 SDAT Status- Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation (SDAT).

Visit https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx for additional information.

a. The applicant shall take the necessary steps to ensure good standing with the

Maryland State Department of Assessments & Taxation.

b. The applicant must be in good standing at the time the award is made.

4.4 Volume II – Budget Narrative

4.4.1 Under a separate folder from the Project Narrative and clearly identified in the format identified in

Section 4.2 “Applications,” the Applicant shall submit a copy of the Budget Narrative. The

Budget Narrative shall contain all price information in the format specified in Exhibit C. The

Applicant shall complete the Budget Narrative Form only as provided in the Budget Narrative

Form.

4.4.2 The Applicant shall attach to the Budget Form Exhibit B document that details the total cost of the proposed activities. The budget categories may include: Personnel (salary and fringe), Consultants; Travel; Contractual; Supplies; Operating Costs; and Other project-related costs.

https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx

SECTION 5 – EVALUATION COMMITTEE, EVALUATION CRITERIA,

AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

5.1 Evaluation Committee

5.1.1 Evaluation of Applications will be performed by a committee established for that purpose and based on the evaluation criteria set forth below. The Evaluation Committee will review

Applications, participate in Applicant oral presentations and discussions, and provide input to the

Procurement Officer. The Department reserves the right to utilize the services of individuals outside of the established Evaluation Committee for advice and assistance, as deemed appropriate.

5.2 Project Narrative Evaluation Criteria

The criteria to be used to evaluate each Project Narrative are listed below.

Based on the Project Narrative, the Offeror’s demonstrated ability to:

5.2.1 Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act Statement and accommodations as described in section 3.2.1.1.

5.2.2 Select and implement one approach from the CDC Focus Area 1) Strengthening Economic

Supports, 2) Creating Protective Environments, OR 3) Promoting Social Norms that Protect

Against Violence focused on community- and societal level SV prevention strategies as described in

Section 3.2.1.2.B.

5.2.3 Describe Implementation Effort as described in 3.2.1.2.B.

5.2.4 Develop an Implementation Work Plan as described in Section 3.2.1.2.B

5.2.5 Select Populations of Focus and Reach as described in Section 3.2.1.2.B

5.2.6 Identify Staffing & Organizational Capacity as described in Section 3.2.1.3.A

5.2.7 Describe Reporting & Data Collection methods as described in Section 3.2.1.4.A

5.2.8 Engage in Collaborations as described in Section 3.2.1.5.A

5.3 Budget Narrative Evaluation Criteria

All Qualified Applicants will be ranked from the lowest (most advantageous) to the highest (least advantageous) based on the rating of the Project Narratives. The Budget Narrative (including the Budget

Form and Budget Narrative), will be evaluated based on reasonable cost given the time and effort described in the Project Narrative. The budget line items must be within the stated guidelines set forth in this RFA and as submitted on Exhibit C – Budget Narrative.

5.4 Selection Procedures

5.4.1 General

The Grant will be awarded in accordance with the Standard Grant Agreement method outlined in the Announcement. The State may determine an Applicant to be non-responsive and/or an

Applicant’s Application to be not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award at any time after the initial closing date for receipt of Applications and prior to Grant award.

If the State finds an Applicant to be not responsive and/or an Applicant’s Project Narrative to be not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award, that Applicant’s Budget Narrative will be returned if the Budget Narrative is unopened at the time of the determination.

5.4.2 Award Determination

Upon completion of the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative evaluations and rankings, each

Applicant will receive an overall ranking. The Procurement Officer will recommend award of the

Grant to the responsible Applicant that submitted the Application determined to be the most advantageous to the State. In making this most advantageous Application determination, technical factors and financial factors will be weighted equally.

RFA ATTACHMENTS

EXHIBIT A – Budget Form

This must be completed and submitted with the Project Narrative in a separate envelope.

EXHIBIT B- Budget Narrative

This form must be completed and submitted with the Budget Form in a separate envelope from the

Project Narrative.

EXHIBIT C- Standard Grant Agreement “Sample”

This is the sample grant agreement used by the Department. It is provided with the RFA for informational purposes and is not required to be submitted an Application submission time. Upon notification of recommendation for award, a completed standard grant agreement will be sent to the recommended awardee for signature. The recommended awardee must return to the Procurement Officer one (1) executed copies of the Standard Grant Agreement within five (5) Business Days after receipt.

Upon award, a fully executed copy will be sent to the Grantee. APPENDIX A & B

EXHIBIT D – RFA Document Checklist Use this checklist to ensure that the required documents for the Project Narrative and Budget Narrative are completed.

ATTACHMENT A- Conditions of Award

ATTACHMENT B- Federal Funds

ATTACHMENT C- Debarment Affirmation

ATTACHMENT D - Certification Regarding Tobacco Smoke

ATTACHMENT E - Certification Regarding Lobby

ATTACHMENT F- Additional Information required for Prevention and Health Promotion

Administration Grants

EXHIBIT E – Project Narrative Prevention Strategy Form: Technical Response & Work Plan

Template (use to complete Application)

EXHIBIT F - Maryland RPE State-level Logic Model 2024-2029 (for reference)

EXHIBIT G - Individual Reach (for reference)

EXHIBIT A – BUDGET FORM

BUDGET FORM

The Budget Narrative shall contain all price information in the format specified on these pages. Complete the Budget Form only as provided in the Budget Form format. Do not amend, alter or leave blank any items on the Budget Form. Failure to adhere to any of these instructions may result in the Budget

Narrative being determined non-responsive and rejected by the Department.

Submitted By:

Authorized Signature: _______________________________________________ Date:

Printed Name and Title:

Company Name :

Company Address:

Location(s) from which services will be performed (City/State):

FEIN: _________________________________________

eMMA #: ________________________________________

Telephone: (_______) _______-- ____________________

Fax: (_______) _______--____________________

E-mail: _________________________________________

Budget Summary

Line Item Qty Unit Cost Total Cost

Salary

Fringe

Contractual

Travel

Operating Costs

Supplies

Other

Other

Other

Other

TOTAL

IDC 10 % CAP

EXHIBIT B – BUDGET NARRATIVE

BUDGET NARRATIVE TEMPLATE

(Please submit a separate Narrative for each Budget Period)

Sample Line-Item Justification

Personnel (Preventionist): $15,600

Justification: The Preventionist will be responsible for: conducting project-related relationship-building activities with new and existing partners; developing informational materials for community leaders and the public, including fact sheets and social media posts related to the project topic; coordinating and facilitating monthly project meetings with partners; conducting awareness-building activities within key demographic areas in the community to engage the project target audience; developing and providing professional training at targeted local governmental agencies and private businesses; attending community events relevant to the project and the project’s partners. The Project Coordinator will also attend RISEMD meetings, collect data, conduct evaluation activities, prepare reports, and act as a liaison with the MDH Grant Monitor.

$30/hr. x 520 hours = $15,600

EXHIBIT C – Standard Grant Agreement “Sample”

ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING APPROPRIATIONS FROM THE STATE

STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT

This Agreement, which is executed in compliance with Section 7-402 of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, is made this <enter day> day of <month, year> , between the State of

Maryland (the “State”), acting through the Maryland Department of Health, (the “Department”), located at <enter

MDH Address> and the <grantee name> (the “Grantee” ), located at <grantee address> in <county / city> County, <state, zip> , a Maryland Limited Liability Company / Corporation. .

1. Effective on the date of execution of this Agreement, the State is extending to the Grantee a grant in the amount of

<amount in words> Dollars ($ xx,xxx.xx) (the “Grant”), which the Grantee shall use only for the following purposes: <grant purpose>

2. Any expenditure of Grant funds that is not consistent with the purposes stated in paragraph 1 may, at the sole discretion of the Department, be disallowed. Should any expenditure be disallowed, or should the Grantee violate any of the terms of this Agreement, the State may require repayment to the State Treasury, an offset from any State Grant to the Grantee in the current or succeeding fiscal year, or other appropriate action. The Grantee shall repay to the State any part of the Grant that is not used for the purposes stated in paragraph 1 within 3 months after the date of this Agreement.

3. The Grantee may not sell, lease, exchange, give away, or otherwise transfer or dispose of real or personal property, or any part of or interest in real or personal property, acquired with Grant funds without the prior written consent of the

Department. This includes transfer or disposition to a successor on the merger, dissolution, or other termination of the existence of the Grantee. The Grantee shall give the Department written notice at least 30 calendar days before any proposed transfer or disposition. Any proceeds from a permitted transfer or disposition shall be applied to repay to the State a percentage of that portion of the Grant allocable to the particular real or personal property transferred or disposed of, unless the Department and the

Grantee agree to other terms and conditions. The percentage shall be equal to the percentage of the unadjusted basis of the property that would remain if the property had been recovery property placed in service after December 31, 1980, and if all allowable deductions had been taken up to the time of disposition under the Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS) specified in the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 168(b)(1).

4. For any item of real or personal property that is acquired with Grant funds and has an original fair market value of

Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) or more, the Grantee shall, at its own expense, and for the reasonable useful life of that item or for 5 years, whichever is less, obtain and maintain insurance. The insurance shall provide full protection for the Grantee and the

State against loss, damage, or destruction of or to the real or personal property. The Grantee shall, on request, provide the

Department with satisfactory evidence of its compliance with this requirement. Proceeds of insurance required by this paragraph shall be applied toward replacement of the real or personal property or toward the partial or total repayment of the State of the

Grant, in the sole discretion of the Department.

5. The Grantee may not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic forbidden as a basis for discrimination by applicable laws and certifies that its Constitution or by-laws contains a non-discrimination clause consistent with the Governor’s Code of Fair practices.

6. The person executing this Agreement on behalf of the Grantee certifies, to the best of that person’s knowledge and belief, that:

A.) Neither the Grantee, nor any of its officers or directors, nor any employee of the Grantee involved in obtaining contracts with or grants from the State or any subdivision of the State, has engaged in collusion with respect to the Grantee’s application for the Grant or this Agreement or has been convicted of bribery, attempted bribery, or conspiracy to bribe under the laws of any state or of the United States.

B.) The Grantee has…