PHPA 4016 Asthma RFA FINAL.docx.pdf

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

STANDARD GRANT AGREEMENT (SGA)

(COMPETITIVE)

PROCUREMENT ID NUMBER – PHPA 4016/BPM057740

Issue Date: June 26, 2026

School Nurse Led Asthma Case Management Capacity Building

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.

STATE OF MARYLAND

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

RFA KEY INFORMATION SUMMARY SHEET

Request for Applications: School-Based Asthma Program Capacity Building

Solicitation Number: PHPA 4016/BPM057740

RFA Issue Date: June 26, 2026

RFA Issuing Office: Maryland Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Procurement Officer: Kelsey Johnson

Maryland Department of Health Prevention and Health Promotion Administration

201 W. Preston Street Baltimore, MD 21201 e-mail: kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov

Grant Monitor: Mikaela Moore Maternal and Child Health Bureau 201 W Preston St, Baltimore, MD 21201

Pre-Application Conference: July 7, 2026, 11:00 AM EST Local Time

Questions due date and time: July 10, 2026 Time: 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: July 17, 2026 Time: 2:00pm EST Local Time

09/2024 mailto:kelsey.johnson1@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), Maternal and Child Health

Bureau is issuing this Request for Applications (RFA) to support capacity building for school nurse-led asthma case management.

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 9 months.

1.1.3 The Department intends to make up to 8 awards as a result of this RFA.

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:

Kelsey Johnson

Procurement Officer Maryland Department of Health Prevention and Health Promotion Administration E-mail: kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov

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

1.4 Grant Monitor

1.4.1 The Grant Monitor is:

Mikaela Moore Maryland Department of Health Maternal and Child Health Bureau 201 W Preston St

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: kelsey.johnson1@maryland.gov. 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) no later than 2:00 pm EST Local Time on July 17, 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 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

https://procurement.maryland.gov/

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.

2.1.3 The Applicant shall be a Local Education Agency (LEA) or a Local Health Department (LHD).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION: Documentation of being a LEA or LHD.

THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK

3.1 Background and Purpose

Asthma is the most common chronic illness among school-aged children, affecting approximately one in twelve students in the United States and contributing to significant educational disruptions.1 It is a leading cause of school absenteeism, accounting for an estimated 13.8 million missed school days annually.2 Research indicates that children with asthma are more than three times as likely to miss school compared to their healthy peers, with the average student losing roughly four days per year due to the condition.2,3 Beyond attendance, poorly controlled asthma is associated with impaired health status, lower quality of life, and reduced participation in physical activities.4,5 These health challenges can translate into academic difficulties; for example, students with asthma may experience up to a 1.7 times greater risk of learning disabilities and are significantly less likely to achieve excellent academic performance in elementary school compared to those with well-managed symptoms.3,4

School nurse-led case management serves as a critical intervention for improving these health and academic outcomes, particularly for students in underserved populations.6 By providing individualized care coordination, education on inhaler technique, and environmental trigger identification, school nurses bridge the gap between clinical providers and the daily school environment.6,7 Peer-reviewed research indicates that students enrolled in school nurse-led case management programs experience a significant reduction in asthma-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations compared to those receiving standard care.6 Furthermore, evidence suggests that these interventions lead to improved school attendance and higher quality-of-life scores, as the consistent presence of a medical professional ensures better adherence to Asthma Action Plans and timely medication administration.6,8

Maryland’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP)9 as well as the Statewide Integrated Health Improvement Strategy (SIHIS) aim to reduce the rate of emergency room (ED) visits for asthma among all children aged 2 to 17. In support of this objective and to improve other health and educational

9 2026 Maryland Department of Health State Health Improvement Plan

8 Lowe, A. A., Onge, I. S., & Trivedi, M. (2022). Updates in school-based asthma management. Current Opinion in Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 23(2), 119–131.

7 Hoque, S., et al. (2022). School nurse perspectives on school-supervised asthma therapy: A qualitative study.

Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology, 35(2), 65–73.

6 Al Kindi, Z., McCabe, C., & McCann, M. (2021). Impact of nurse-led asthma intervention on child health outcomes: A scoping review. The Journal of School Nursing, 38(1), 84–97.

5 Stridsman, C., Dahlberg, E., Zandrén, K., & Hedman, L. (2017). Asthma in adolescence affects daily life and school attendance - Two cross-sectional population-based studies 10 years apart. Nursing Open, 4(3), 143–148.

4 Bener, A. (2011). The Impact of Asthma and Allergic Diseases on Schoolchildren: Are They at Increased Risk of Absenteeism and Poor School Performance? Advanced Topics in Environmental Health and Air Pollution Case Studies.

3 Tsakiris, A., et al. (2013). The Presence of Asthma, the Use of Inhaled Steroids, and Parental Education Level Affect School Performance in Children. BioMed Research International, 2013, 1-7.

2 Frontiers. (2026). One-session asthma curriculum for all K–8th grade students: impact on knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy. Frontiers in Allergy.

1 Hsu, J., Qin, X., Beavers, S. F., & Mirabelli, M. C. (2016). Asthma-Related School Absenteeism, Morbidity, and Modifiable Factors. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 51(1), 23–32.

https://health.maryland.gov/pha/Documents/PHAB%20documents/2026%20State%20Health%20Improvement%20Plan%20Update_3.2026.pdf outcomes for students with asthma, the State is issuing this solicitation to build the capacity for school nurse-led case management in Maryland public schools.

3.2 Scope of Work - Requirements

The Applicant shall:

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.

For contracts which include direct patient care or service delivery through a program, the ADA requires entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities. This includes, but is not limited to:

● reasonable modifications of policies, practices, and procedures.

● effective communication; and

● accessible facilities.

3.2.2 Asthma Case Management Capacity Building Requirements

3.2.2.1 The Applicant must submit a project narrative outlining how they will support capacity building for school nurse-led asthma case management to improve outcomes for students with asthma.

A. Asthma case management is a collaborative approach to improving asthma outcomes through development of individualized health care plans for children with asthma that have measurable goals; implementation of activities to meet those goals; and tracking of relevant outcomes

B. School health services programs should refer to the following evidence-based resources

a. Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative Toolkit

b. SAMPRO – The School-Based Allergy, Asthma and Anaphylaxis

Management Program: Comprehensive Asthma Educational Resources

c. School Nursing Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline: Students with

Asthma C. The Applicant must describe how they will implement the following activities that lead to readiness for initiation of school nurse-led asthma case management outlined in sections 3.2.2.2 through 3.2.2.4.

3.2.2.2 Capacity building for identification of students with asthma.

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/health-professionals-educators/asthma-friendly-schools-initiative/toolkit https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/school-tools/sampro https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/school-tools/sampro https://learn.nasn.org/courses/89514 https://learn.nasn.org/courses/89514

A. Development of a systematic method to identify and track information about all students with asthma. Information should include, but is not limited to, elements such as;

a. Current asthma action plan on file

b. Needed asthma medications present in school

c. Authorization to self-carry/self-administer asthma medication

d. Asthma triggers and interventions to address triggers at school

e. Asthma-related health room visits/exacerbations

f. Receipt of asthma education

g. Absences

h. Asthma individualized health plan (IHP)/emergency action plan (EAP) developed B. Determination of criteria for designating students to receive school nurse-led asthma case management

3.2.2.3 Capacity building for care planning and outcomes evaluation.

A. Development of IHP templates for students with asthma that include measurable goals in specific areas to facilitate outcomes tracking. Goals and related outcome areas should include, but are not limited to:

a. Increase in asthma self-management skills

b. Decrease in asthma exacerbations

c. Decrease in school absences

B. Creation of a mechanism for routine IHP data collection and basic analysis of outcomes

C. Development of data sharing agreements as needed for access to student data such as attendance

3.2.2.4 Capacity building for care plan implementation

A. As needed, provision of professional development for school nurses and school staff on asthma and asthma management (e.g., updated asthma guidelines, technology, and treatment updates)

B. As needed, training for school nurses and/or other appropriate school staff to facilitate student and caregiver education (e.g., Open Airways, Kickin’ Asthma, etc.)

C. Development of strategies to improve communication and collaborative relationships with pediatric health care providers to support asthma management, including asthma action plan completion

D. As needed, identification of and outreach to community resources that can provide additional support for asthma management

E. Assessment of school-based asthma environmental triggers and plans for mitigation as appropriate

3.2.2.5 Pilot testing of school nurse-led asthma case management in a minimum of one elementary and one secondary school to refine processes.

3.2.2.6 Creation of a work plan for Local Education Agency-wide rollout of school nurse-led asthma case management in the 2027 – 2028 school year.

3.2.2.7 Additional capacity-building activities as determined by the local school health services program.

https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/health-professionals-educators/open-airways-for-schools/open-airways-for-schools https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma/health-professionals-educators/kickin-asthma

3.2.3 Staffing and Experience

3.2.3.1 Applicants will designate at least one Registered Nurse (RN) as the lead staff for implementation of school nurse-led asthma capacity building activities. Examples of use of funds include, but are not limited to:

A. Supporting a portion of RN or other staff salary to complete grant activities.

B. Funding a stipend for an RN or other staff to complete grant activities.

C. Funding substitute RN hours to cover RN staff time to complete grant activities.

D. Provision of professional development for school nurses and school staff on asthma/asthma management.

E. Training for school nurses and/or other appropriate school staff to facilitate student and caregiver education.

3.2.3.2 Additional staffing is at the discretion of the Applicant, but should align with submitted proposals and contribute to the grant deliverables.

3.2.3.3 Applicants must submit CVs for all relevant project staff, including in-kind, and job descriptions for any vacancies.

3.2.4 Deliverables, Performance Measures, and Reporting

3.2.4.1 The objectives of this program are as follows

A. Objective 1: By June 30, 2027, improve the capacity of local school health services programs to implement school nurse-led asthma case management.

B. Objective 2: By June 30, 2027, develop viable plans for school system-wide implementation of school nurse-led asthma case management in Local Education Agencies.

3.2.4.2 The Applicant is expected to meet the following deliverables

A. Demonstration of a systematic method to identify and track information about all students with asthma

B. List of criteria for designating students to receive school nurse-led asthma care management

C. Completed Individualized Health Plan (IHP) template for students with asthma that includes measurable goals in specific areas to facilitate outcomes tracking

D. Demonstration of a mechanism for routine IHP data collection and analysis of outcomes

E. As applicable, a list of professional development and/or training opportunities completed by school nurses and other school staff

F. Evidence of strategies implemented and/or planned to improve communication and collaborative relationships with pediatric health care providers to support asthma management, including asthma action plan completion

G. Results of assessment of school-based asthma environmental triggers and plans for mitigation as appropriate

H. Evidence of pilot testing of school nurse-led asthma case management in a minimum of one elementary and one secondary school to refine processes

3.2.4.3 The Applicant will report the following Performance Measures

A. Number of students identified with asthma B. Number of students meeting criteria for asthma case management

C. Number of professional development and/or training opportunities completed D. Number of nurses and other school staff completing professional development and/or training E. Number of strategies developed to improve communication and collaboration with pediatric health care providers F. Number of schools completing pilot testing of asthma case management.

3.2.4.4 The Applicant will be expected to participate in quarterly meetings organized by the Department.

3.2.4.5 The Applicant will be required to submit quarterly reports and an annual report to the Department detailing program activities on the 15th of the month following the end of the quarter.

The report shall include, but not be limited to:

A. Budget and Expenditures B. Progress on Deliverables and Performance Measures C. Challenges encountered and Technical Assistance needs

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:

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.

B. Cyber Security / Data Breach Insurance – The Contractor shall possess and maintain throughout the term of the Contractor and for three (3) years thereafter, cyber risk/ data breach insurance (either separately or as part of a broad Professional Liability or Errors and Omissions Insurance) with limits of at least five million dollars ($5,000,000) per claim. Any "insured vs. insured" exclusions will be modified accordingly to allow the State additional insured status without prejudicing the State’s rights under the policy(ies).

Coverage shall be sufficiently broad to respond to the Contractor's duties and obligations under the Contract and shall include, but not be limited to, claims involving privacy violations, information theft, damage to or destruction of electronic information, the release of Sensitive Data, and alteration of electronic information, extortion, and network security. The policy shall provide coverage for, not by way of limitation, breach response costs as well as regulatory fines and penalties as well as credit monitoring expenses with limits sufficient to respond to these obligations.

C. Worker’s Compensation - The Contractor shall maintain such insurance as necessary or as required under Workers’ Compensation Acts, the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, to not be less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence (unless a state’s law requires a greater amount of coverage). Coverage must be valid in all states where work is performed.

SECTION 4 – APPLICATION FORMAT

Quarterly Invoice Performance Period Due Date Initial October 1 - December 31 January 15

Second January 1 - March 31 April 15 Third April 1 - June 30 July 15

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);

● Applicant’s eMMA number;

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

mailto:RFA.PHPA@maryland.gov

● 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, 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 within the Scope of Work: Requirements are listed below in descending order of importance.

5.2.1. General Requirements as described in Section 3.2.1

5.2.2 Asthma Case Management Capacity Building Requirements as described in Section 3.2

5.2.3 Staffing and Experience as described in Section 3.2.3

5.2.4 Deliverables, Performance Measures, and Reporting as described in Section 3.2.4

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 Applicants that submitted the Applications 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 at 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

ATTACHMENT G - Work Plan Template

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” (Replace with RFA template revision)

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 not employed or retained any person, partnership, corporation, or other entity, other than a bona fide employee or agent working for the Grantee, to solicit or secure the Grant or this Agreement, and the Grantee has not paid or agreed to pay any such entity any fee or other consideration contingent on the making of the Grant or this Agreement; the grantee understands and complies with the Conflicts of Interest provision of the Public Ethics Law, Maryland Code Annotated, General Provisions, Title 5, Subtitle 5.

C.) The Grantee, if incorporated, is registered or qualified in accordance with the Corporations and Associations

Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, is in good standing, has filed all required annual reports and filing fees with the Department of Assessments and Taxation and all required tax returns and reports with the Comptroller of the Treasury, the Department of Assessments and Taxation, and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, and has paid or arranged for the payment of all taxes due to the State; and

D.) No money has been paid to or promised to be paid to any legislative agent, attorney, or lobbyist for any services rendered in securing the passage of legislation establishing or appropriating funds for the Grant.

E.) Neither the Grantee, nor any of its officers or directors, nor any person substantially involved in the contracting or fund raising.

activities of the Grantee, is currently suspended or debarred from contracting with the State or any other public entity or subject to debarment under the Code of Maryland Regulations, COMAR 21.08.04.04.

7. Within 60 calendar days after the close of any grant period in which the Grantee receives funds under this Agreement, the Grantee shall provide to the Department an itemized statement of expenditures, showing how the funds were expended for that grant period. In addition, a copy of the statement shall be mailed to the Director, General Accounting Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Treasury, Room 200, Louis L. Goldstein Treasury Building, Annapolis, Maryland 21401. The Grantee shall retain bills of sale or other satisfactory evidence of the acquisition of any real or personal property for at least 3 years after the date of this Agreement. The Department, the Department of Budget and Management, the State Comptroller, and the Legislative Auditor, or any of them, may examine and audit this evidence, on request, at any reasonable time within the retention period.

8. The Grantee shall comply with Section 7-221, 7-402, and 7-403 of the State Finance and Procurement Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as applicable.

9. The laws of Maryland shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Agreement.

10. This Agreement shall bind the respective successors and assigns of the parties.

11. The Grantee may not sell, transfer, or otherwise assign any of its obligations under this Agreement, or its rights, title, or interest in this Agreement, without the prior written consent of the Department.

12. No amendment to this Agreement is binding unless it is in writing and signed by both parties.

13. The following items are incorporated by referenced and made a part of this Agreement . Appendix A & B, Attachment A, B, C, D, E.&F.

SIGNATURES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, WITNESS the hands and seals of the parties.

GRANTEE

(Name of Corporation or Association)

By: ___________________________________________

. SEAL

Name: .

Title:

DEPARTMENT

Maryland Department of Health.

(Name of Corporation or Association)

By: __________________________________________

SEAL

Name: _______________________________

Title: ________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________

APPENDIX A

The Department’s Grant Monitor is: The Grantee’s Grant Monitor is:

<Name and Title of MDH grant monitor> <enter name, title, office, grantee agency, address, <Office> phone number and email > Maryland Department of Health 201 W. Preston Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Phone:

Email:

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF AGREEMENT

<Enter background information of the agreement>

II. DUTIES OF THE GRANTEE

SCOPE OF WORK:

<Enter all duties and scopes of work for the grant agreement>

APPENDIX B (insert revised budget)

Cost Estimate for:

<Name of Project>

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE - <Date of Project>

<Enter Budget>

II. DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT

Other than awarding the funds to the <grantee/sub-recipient/sub-awardee> for this project <MDH awarding agency> will:

Provide necessary technical support and monitoring to <grantee/sub-recipient/sub-awardee> to ensure state and federal grant compliance.

This includes but is not limited to:

● Completion of the MDH Office of the Inspector General Risk Assessment. Visit https://health.maryland.gov/oig/Pages/DHMH%20OIG.aspx for more information.

● Completion of the Standard Grant Agreement Checklist.

● Determination of Good Standing with the Maryland State Department of

Assessments & Taxation (SDAT). Visit https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx for additional information.

● Review for Debarment, Suspension, or any Exclusion from doing business with Maryland. Visit https://bpw.maryland.gov/pages/debarments.aspx for additional information.

● Determination regarding No Conflicts of Interest.

● Review of Single Audits https://health.maryland.gov/oig/Pages/DHMH%20OIG.aspx https://sdat.dat.maryland.gov/RealProperty/Pages/default.aspx https://bpw.maryland.gov/pages/debarments.aspx

SECTION IV. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Both parties hereby agree that the documents described below, if any, are hereby incorporated into and made an integral part of this Agreement: (Type "None", if none)

Exact Title of Document(s)

Number of Pages

Conditions of Award- Attachment A 2

Federal Funds- Attachment B 2

Debarment Affirmation- Attachment C 2

Certification Regarding Tobacco Smoke- Attachment D 1

Certification Regarding Lobby- Attachment E 5

Additional Information required for Prevention and Health Promotion Administration Grants – Attachment F

ATTACHMENT A

CONDITIONS OF AWARD

Maryland Department of Health (MDH)

<Enter Department Here> <Enter Federal Awarding Agency Here>

<Enter Name of Federal Award and Grant Number Here>

Period of Performance: <Enter from and To Dates Here>

Important Dates:

<Enter Date Here>: Quarterly progress report <Enter Date Here>: All funds obligated <Enter Date Here>: All funds must be spent <Enter Date Here>: Final progress and fiscal report due to MDH

The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient (circle one), shall comply with these conditions. Consequences for failure to comply with these conditions may include: a point reduction in score for future competitive and non-competitive applications, a reduction of overall award, audit exceptions and/or reduction in future awards.

Program Requirements:

1. The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient, <Enter Grantee Name Here > agrees to comply with MDH guidelines and initiatives with regards to their expenditures/purchases.

2. When procuring equipment, the recipient must comply with the procurement standards at 45 CFR Part

92.36 and 45 CFR 74.40 through 74.48, including 74.45, which requires the performance and documentation of some form of cost or price analysis with every procurement action.

3. The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient, will perform activities that coordinate, integrate, prioritize and sustain improvements in public health emergency preparedness.

4. The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient, shall cite < Enter Name of Federal Award > and the MDH <Enter Department Here> as a funding source when publishing or presenting data or programs partially or fully funded by MDH grants.

5. The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient, should inform the MDH <Enter Department Here> as a courtesy when a presentation or publication is made public that involves programs or data partially or fully funded by MDH, and any federal grants. All reports, data, software, or presentations generated from federal funded projects must be made available to MDH for review and comment prior to release or distribution.

Fiscal Requirements:

1. The grantee/sub-grantee/sub-recipient, shall not use <Enter Name of Federal Award> to:

a. Support the costs of operating clinical trials of investigational agents, equipment or treatments;

b. Make payments directly to recipients of services, except for reimbursement of reasonable and allowable out-of-pocket expenses associated with consumer participation in State or consortia activities;

c. Support legal services;

d. Provide direct maintenance expenses of privately owned vehicles or any other costs associated with a vehicle, such as lease or loan payments, vehicle insurance, or license registration fees;

e. Purchase or improve land, or to purchase, construct, or make permanent improvements to any building, except for minor remodeling;

f. Pay property taxes;

g. Fund capital improvement projects;

h. Supplant personnel costs and/or other activities.

i. Prepare, distribute, or use of any material (publicity/propaganda) or to pay the salary…