PHPA 3777 Pre-Applicaton Conference Minutes.pdf

Pre-Application Conference Minutes

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA): CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SPECIFIC HEALTH CARE

NEEDS PROVIDER EDUCATION

Solicitation Number: PHPA 3777/BPM057511

Date: June 29, 2026, at 1:30 PM

Vendor Attendance:

Nellie Power, Maryland Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics

Shavonne Reed, Future Health Now Foundation, Inc

Fiona Morrison-Fleming, Cardea Services

Nikhil Jain, The Global Health Institute for Innovation and Leadership

Porshia Morgan, Roselee Cares Organization

Deepika V., SARGAD, LLC

Chandria Jones, NORC, University of Chicago

Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Staff:

Stacy Taylor, MDH

Augustus Woyah, MDH

Greetings/Virtual Rules – Augustus Woyah, MDH

Attendees were advised that the virtual conference was being recorded, and virtual conference rules were reviewed.

Greetings/Introductions – Augustus Woyah, Procurement Officer

Augustus Woyah, Procurement Officer, facilitated opening remarks and introductions. MDH staff and attendees introduced themselves. All attendees were asked to sign in using the “Chat” feature within the virtual meeting.

Procurement Overview – Augustus Woyah, Procurement Officer, MDH

The Department intends to make a single award as a result of this RFA. The duration of services to be provided under this Agreement is September 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The award shall not exceed $225,000 for the fiscal year.

It is important to remember that in order to receive a grant award from the Maryland

Department of Health, a vendor must be “registered” on the eMaryland Marketplace

Advantage (eMMA). Registration is free. Please review Section 1.5 on page 4 of the RFA.

If you are part of an organization with multiple applicants, please ensure each applicant is registered under its own eMMA number (SUP #). An SUP can only be used once per solicitation.

Please reach out to the eMMA Help desk at emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov for any additional information.

Carefully review Section 1.6 Questions on page 4 regarding how to submit questions subsequent to this Pre-Application Conference. Questions to the Procurement Officer, Augustus Woyah, shall be submitted through the email address listed on the RFA Key Information Summary Sheet.

Please identify the Solicitation Number and Title in the subject line.

Questions should be submitted no later than 2:00 PM EST on July 13, 2026.

The Procurement Officer, based on the availability of time to research and communicate an answer, will decide whether an answer can be given before the application due date. Given that, please try to submit any questions as soon as possible.

If the RFA is revised before the application due date, the Department shall provide an

Addendum. Please be sure to check the eMMA website to acknowledge any addenda.

Carefully review Section 2- Mandatory Requirements, beginning with page 6 of the RFA. The

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

• 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.

• 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 the tax-exempt status of the Applicant

(i.e., IRS tax-exempt status determination letter).

POINTS EMPHASIZED:

A. This solicitation requests a Firm Fixed Price. There are several steps involved in this method, so your attention to the solicitation document is crucial to the successful submission of your application.

B. The Grantee’s Requirements: The Scope of Work is listed in Section 3.2, beginning on page 7. This outlines the responsibilities of the Applicant and provides a clear understanding of what the Department expects from the successful Applicant in the provision of services.

mailto:emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov

Participants were informed that representatives from the program staff would further discuss the

Scope of Work during the meeting.

C. Proposal Format

Applicants are required to submit their response to the RFA in two parts. Section 4- Application

Format, beginning on page 14, clearly lists all submission requirements.

o Volume I – Project Narrative o Volume II – Budget Narrative

No pricing information is to be included in the Project Narrative (Volume 1) and the transmittal letter. Pricing information is to be included only in the Budget Narrative

(Volume II).

D. Section 5 (beginning on page 16) outlines the evaluation committee, evaluation criteria, and selection procedure. Your application will be evaluated by a committee organized for that purpose based on the criteria set forth in the RFA.

Section 5.2 (page 16) lists the project narrative evaluation criteria in descending order of importance, and Section 5.3 (page 16) lists the budget narrative evaluation criteria.

Section 5.4 (page 17) highlights the selection procedures. As noted, the Grant will be awarded according to the Standard Grant Agreement method outlined in the Announcement.

E. RFA Attachments are listed on page 18 with clear descriptions.

F. Other than composing your Project Narrative and Budget Narrative, the most important matter is to have your applications submitted by the date and time listed on the RFA.

Applications are due no later than July 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST Local Time and must be submitted to the State's e-procurement system, eMMA. (Please see the addendum posted on eMMA for the new deadline for submitting applications)

No applications will be accepted after 2:00 PM

Overview of Grantee’s Requirements and Scope of Work – Naomi Bouchard-Gordon.

PowerPoint slides are attached to the minutes.

Questions and Answers

Question #1: For continuing education credits, is it acceptable to secure CE accreditation through a partner after award, or should that relationship already be established at the time of submission?

Answer:

Section 3.2.3 Specific Requirements states that the Application shall include:

B. Research and proposed recommendations on:

1. Appropriate and applicable professional continuing education credits to be offered to incentivize provider participation.

2. Optimal platform for asynchronous learning modules

3. Key partnerships and optimal dissemination pathways for the wide distribution of education materials

C. A detailed master work plan as noted in §3.2.2.1 including a proposed timeframe for the following activities:

1. Development of a comprehensive and enduring educational program for providers

2. Identification of an appropriate platform for asynchronous learning modules

3. Coordination and execution of webinars and asynchronous learning modules.

4. Application for and securing of applicable enduring continuing education (CE) credits for all developed materials.

5. Identification and establishment of key partnerships and effective pathways for broad material dissemination.

It is not necessary to secure CE accreditation prior to application, or to have that relationship already established, however, the application should clearly indicate recommendations on the type of CE accreditation appropriate for different types of providers and demonstrate the applicant's ability to secure them. The work plan should include a timeline for application for and securing of applicable enduring continuing education (CE) credits for all developed materials.

Question #2: Where will the asynchronous learning modules be hosted?

Answer:

Section 3.2.3 Specific Requirements states that the Application shall include:

B. Research and proposed recommendations on:

1. Appropriate and applicable professional continuing education credits to be offered to incentivize provider participation.

2. Optimal platform for asynchronous learning modules

3. Key Partnership and optimal dissemination pathways for the wide distribution of education materials

C. A detailed master work plan as noted in §3.2.2.1 including a proposed timeframe for the following activities:

1. Development of a comprehensive and enduring educational program for providers

2. Identification of an appropriate platform for asynchronous learning modules

3. Coordination and execution of webinars and asynchronous learning modules.

4. Application for and securing of applicable enduring continuing education (CE) credits for all developed materials.

5. Identification and establishment of key partnerships and effective pathways for broad material dissemination.

The application should include a recommendation for the optimal platform for asynchronous learning modules. The work plan should include a timeline for final

Identification of an appropriate platform for asynchronous learning modules

Question #3: Could we provide an asynchronous module in lieu of a writing sample?

Answer: Yes

Question #3. Can you share the reason for the RFA being reissued/reposted?

Answer: The solicitation needed amendments.