PreApplication Webinar FY27 ACCESS Grant Program 1_5_2026 (1).pptx

Advancing Cross-Cutting Engagement and Service Strategies for People who Use Drugs (ACCESS) Grant Program – State Fiscal Year 2027 Monday, January 5, 2026 - 1:00PM

Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Division of Prevention & Promotion (DPP) Request for Applications (RFA)

Pre-Application Webinar

Agenda

MDH Staff Introductions ACCESS Grant Program Background & Overview Purpose, related programs, fund sources

RFA Section 1: General Information Key dates, state contacts, RFA updates, award type, project period

RFA Section 2: Mandatory Requirements Applicant eligibility requirements, annual funding limits

RFA Section 3: Scope of Work Grant program priorities, required & allowable activities, invoicing & expenditure reporting

RFA Section 4: Application Format Volume 1: Technical Application: Transmittal letter, project narrative, performance measures, other required documents Volume 2: Budget Narrative

Agenda (continued)

RFA Section 5: Application Evaluation & Award Selection Evaluation committee & criteria, award selection procedures

How to Submit Application

Attachments Review

Questions

Introductions

Procurement Officer

Crystal, our procurement manager for this grant opportunity, will start off the presentation here and review information about the procurement process and grant opportunity.

[turn it over to Crystal]

ACCESS Grant Program Background & Overview

ACCESS Overview Goal: Reduce morbidity & mortality among people who use drugs (PWUD) Grants provided directly to community-based nonprofits, local government agencies, public colleges/universities Established by MDH in 2020 Oversight & administration 2020-2024: Prevention & Health Promotion Administration (PHPA) 2024-present: Behavioral Health Administration (BHA)

Related MDH Programs Overdose Response Program (ORP) State-authorized ORPs conduct overdose education & naloxone distribution (OEND) throughout Maryland MDH operates centralized purchasing/distro system for naloxone & drug testing strips

Opioid-Associated Disease Prevention & Outreach Programs (OADPOP) State-authorized OADPOPs deliver comprehensive array of drug user health services, including distribution of sterile supplies to reduce infectious disease transmission

Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) Drug testing & analysis program implemented by OADPOPs w/ support from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)

POINT Center MD MDH/HealthHIV collaborative to deliver training & technical assistance to ACCESS grantees, ORPs, OADPOPS, & others serving people who use drugs in MD.

Fund Sources

ACCESS utilizes multiple federal & state fund sources:

SAMHSA State Opioid Response (SOR) grants CDC Overdose Data to Action in States (OD2A-S) Cooperative Agreement State general funds Individual ACCESS awards may incorporate funds from 1 or more sources based on:

Alignment of grantee’s activities/services with fund source goals & priorities Allowable and unallowable costs for each fund source Total funding available from each fund source at time of award MDH & ACCESS award recipients must adhere to laws, regulations, conditions of award (COA), and policies applicable to each fund source – these may change over time

SAMHSA “Dear Colleague” Letter July 29, 2025 https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/dear-colleague-letter-executive-order-ending-crime-disorder-americas-streets-07302025.pdf

“Moving forward, SAMHSA funds will no longer be used to support poorly defined so-called “harm reduction” activities; rather, SAMHSA is providing guidance to state agency leadership and to grantees through new award terms and conditions that provide clarity on what supplies and services previously defined under the umbrella of harm reduction can be supported with SAMHSA funding.”

CDC OD2A-S Grant Note - December 15, 2025 “As noted in the CDC Priorities shared as a Grant Note and consistent with SAMHSA guidance issued on July 29, 2025, CDC funds may not be used to support harm reduction efforts that primarily serve to facilitate illegal drug use and its attendant harm. Instead, activities under this cooperative agreement should focus on reducing the risk of a fatal overdose and addressing co-morbid conditions, with the overall aim of linking individuals to care and treatment and supporting recovery efforts.”

RFA Section 1:

General Information

Behavioral Health Administration Division of Prevention and Promotion Contract Officer Crystal Hack

(410) 627-6814 crystal.hack@maryland.gov Grant Monitor Michael Baier

(410) 218-9835 michael.baier@maryland.gov

Optional Extensions: As determined by MDH contingent on funding availability and grantee performance and compliance with COA.

The last day to submit questions is January 15th (end of day).

Award Type (Section 1.2) ACCESS awards are grants in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 21.01.02.01(46)

Specific agreement type used to execute awards may vary based on the type of grantee:

Private nonprofit organizations: Standard Grant Agreement (SGA) Local health departments: UFD awards in accordance with the LHD Funding System Public colleges/universities: University Interagency Agreement (IA) Other government agencies: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) Registration Organizations must register with eMMA to submit applications: https://procurement.maryland.gov/

Applicant Questions Questions must be submitted via eMMA. Do not contact MDH staff directly.

Identify the Solicitation # and RFA Title in the subject line.

Contract Officer will update RFA posting in eMMA with applicant questions & MDH responses.

Please submit questions at least 7 business days prior to RFA’s closing date (1/15 EOD) to ensure MDH has sufficient time to post a response.

RFA Revisions Implemented through addenda to RFA in eMMA last day to submit a question - January 15th EOD.

RFA Section 2:

Mandatory Requirements

Applicant Eligibility (Section 2.1) Entity types: eligibility is limited to the following types of entities:

A “social organization” as defined under Section 7-402, State Finance and Procurement Article, Annotated Code of Maryland AND classified by the IRS as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code An agency of state or local government A public college or state university

ORP Authorization: The eligible entities listed above must also have an active authorization issued by the MDH Overdose Response Program (ORP) under Health-General Article, Title 13, Subtitle 3, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Email mdh.naloxone@maryland.gov with any questions about your organization’s ORP authorization status

Applicant-Specific Annual Funding Limit (Section 2.2) Purpose Prioritize funding for direct services for PWUD, including via state-authorized OADPOPs Direct greater share of resources to local communities with higher substance use-related burden Encourage proposals for expanded or enhanced services within the current system while ensuring fair competition among all eligible applicants An applicant’s total annual funding request may not exceed the MDH-defined applicant-specific funding limit.

Applicants must use the funding limit calculator integrated into Attachment B – ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (MS Excel) to obtain their annual funding limit.

Applicant-Specific Annual Funding Limit (Section 2.2) Applicants must use the funding limit calculator integrated into Attachment B – ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (MS Excel) to obtain their annual funding limit.

Formula 1:

Base award amount established for all applicants based on historical average ACCESS award totals OADPOPs receive supplements to the base award based on # years active, # fixed sites, & RAD program participation Supplemented award totals are adjusted (up or down) based on local-level substance use vulnerability index Formula 2:

Current grantees % increase over existing awards is capped. % increase is larger for OADPOPs (30%) than non-OADPOPs (15%) Current grantees’ funding limit will be the lesser amount produced by the two formulas.

Funding Request Considerations

Applicants may request funding (i.e. total budget) at a level below the applicant-specific annual funding limit.

A “high” funding limit does constitute an endorsement by MDH of an applicant’s ability to justify or effectively utilize that amount of funding.

Applicants should carefully consider their organization’s capacity to implement the proposed project and only request a funding level they can realistically utilize.

Requesting resources at a level beyond what the applicant can effectively justify does not strengthen an application.

RFA Section 3:

Scope of Work (SOW)

ACCESS Principles & Evidence-based Practices (Section 3.1)

Accepts the reality of substance use and works to minimize its negative impacts.

Understands substance use as a complex phenomenon mediated by personal, environmental, and historical factors that impact people’s vulnerability to, and capacity to deal with, substance use-related harms.

Takes a non-judgmental, non-coercive, and person-centered approach to service development and provision.

Ensures that people who use drugs have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them, including by employing people with lived experience of substance use in leadership and service delivery roles.

Ensures services are low-barrier and available to people regardless of current drug use.

Incorporates practical education about strategies for reducing substance use-related risks, infectious disease prevention, and overdose prevention while also addressing people’s health and social needs beyond those directly related to substance use.

SOW Requirements (Section 3.2) General Requirements All ACCESS-supported services/activities shall be for the purpose of reducing morbidity and mortality among PWUD.

Services shall not be made contingent on abstinence from substance use.

ORP services, including:

Provide overdose response training/education Prescribe & dispense naloxone Distribute drug testing strips Prioritize ORP services for PWUD

Core Activities Applicants must conduct at least three (3) of the Core Activities listed in Section 3.2, including:

OADPOP: distribute sterile injection equipment and other supplies for the prevention of overdose and infectious disease.

OADPOP: participate in the Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) program.

Provide peer support services.

Provide education on overdose and infectious disease prevention.

Provide rapid HIV/HCV testing Provide mobile or community-based drug checking Provide drug-related wound care education, services, and supplies.

Provide low-barrier access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including methadone and/or buprenorphine.

Expand options for the collection and safe disposal of used injection equipment.

Provide linkages to somatic and behavioral health care, care coordination, housing and employment services.

Conduct direct outreach and engagement with overdose survivors (i.e. individuals who have recently experienced a non-fatal overdose).

Routinely collect and incorporate input from people who use drugs about service quality and delivery.

Conduct a needs assessment to identify populations that are not accessing services and inform new service delivery strategies.

Develop and support Community Advisory Boards.

Employ navigators to connect people to services.

Other Allowable Activities The “Other Allowable Activities” listed in Section 3.2 are allowable but not required. These include, but are not limited to:

Provide hepatitis A and B vaccinations Provide reproductive health education, supplies, and services Implement pharmacy-based naloxone voucher programs Provide wellness and somatic health services Provide temporary housing support Provide transportation for clients to access services (with priority on navigator or peer led transportation) Implement telehealth initiatives to improve service offerings in resource-limited areas Implement public health vending machines and/or community naloxone boxes.

Applicants may propose to implement services/activities not explicitly listed in Section 3.2 provided that they align with the general purposes of the ACCESS Grant Program (as determined by MDH).

Invoicing & Expenditure Reporting (Section 3.3) Grantees are required to submit periodic invoices or expenditure reports (monthly or quarterly) Awards executed as SGAs, IAs, or MOUs: invoices w/ documentation of actual expenditures at line item level LHDs: expenditure reports by object code Specific invoicing or expenditure reporting processes are defined in award COA See Attachment F: ACCESS Grant Program Conditions of Award

RFA Section 4:

Application Format

Two Part Submission (Section 4.1)

Volume I: Technical Application Transmittal Letter Project Narrative (Attachment D) Performance Measures & Benchmarks (Attachment E) Required documentation (if applicable): proof of IRS tax-exempt status, W-9 w/ EIN, Form 990, federal indirect cost (IDC) rate agreement Volume II: Budget Narrative ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (Attachment B) – PREFERRED

OR

Budget Narrative Template (Attachment C) No budget information should be included in Volume 1!

Transmittal Letter (Section 4.3.1) Must include:

Applicant name RFA Title and Solicitation # (see RFA Key Information Summary Sheet) Signature, typed name, and title of an individual authorized to commit the Applicant to its Application (“Authorized Official”) Applicant’s Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) Applicant’s eMMA number Acknowledge that Applicant will meet the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act Statement (see Section 3.2) If applicable:

Applicant’s Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification # Applicant’s Small Business Reserve (SBR) #

Project Narrative (Section 4.3.2) Use Attachment D (MS Word form) Key Information Chart: required information about the applicant organization & officers Applicant must address each SOW requirement in Section 3.2 Respond to SOW prompts, including:

Maryland jurisdictions where services will be provided Project abstract Organization mission, service offerings, experience serving PWUD Description of proposed project, including required ORPs services, Core Activities, & Other Allowable Activities Staff capacity to implement project Non-personnel resources needed Data management & reporting Abide by word limits for responses to each prompt

Performance Measures & Benchmarks (Section 4.3.3) Use Attachment E (MS Word form) Quantitative Performance Measures (PM) Grantees are required to submit monthly PM reports Table includes pre-filled list of quantitative PM associated with common ACCESS-funded activities/services For each PM that is applicable to your proposed project, enter a numerical benchmark (target) for the 1-year initial project period Enter “NA” for each PM that is NOT applicable to your proposed project Narrative Progress Reports Grantees are required to submit quarterly narrative progress reports Enter each Core Activity and Other Allowable Activity that is applicable to your proposed project in the left column of the Narrative Progress Reports section of the table. If awarded, this will be used to determine the progress report content to be reported quarterly.

Budget Narrative (Section 4.4) Budget must cover initial 1-year project period Budget total must not exceed applicant-specific annual funding limit Included costs should adhere to ACCESS Grant Program requirements (see Attachment G - ACCESS Grant Program Allowable & Unallowable Costs) ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (Attachment B) MDH-preferred budget narrative format MS Excel file w/ auto-calculation functions Reduces risk of calculation errors that may be detrimental to application scoring Must be used to obtain applicant-specific annual funding limit Budget Narrative Template (Attachment C) MS Word form May be used as alternative to ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook Applicants should take care to ensure calculations are correct

Budget Categories Salary: Include the position title, name of the person in the position (if applicable), annual salary, annual % effort, and total salary cost.

Fringe: Include the cost for fringe benefits including health insurance, retirement, etc. Total fringe cost for a position cannot exceed 37.81% of the position’s total salary cost.

Travel: In-state and out-of-state travel for employees/volunteers (mileage, airfare, lodging, etc.)

Equipment: Durable goods with a useful life > 1 year or more and a unit cost of $5,000 or more.

Supplies: Supplies and other non-equipment materials necessary to implement the project or deliver services. Calculated based on a standard cost per unit of goods to be purchased.

Contractual: Costs for all subcontractors or subrecipients. Requires narrative description of the services they will provide.

Other: Any other allowable costs that do not fit into the preceding categories.

Indirect costs (IDC): IDC calculated as a percentage of total direct costs.

OD2A Allowable Costs CDC funds may not be used to support harm reduction efforts that primarily serve to facilitate illegal drug use and its attendant harm. Instead, activities under this cooperative agreement should focus on reducing the risk of a fatal overdose and addressing co-morbid conditions, with the overall aim of linking individuals to care and treatment and supporting recovery efforts.

Focus on life-saving response strategies:

Distributing naloxone and other opioid overdose reversal medications to save lives Providing tools to test substances in the local drug supply - like fentanyl test strips - to identify and monitor emerging substances Supporting Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) activities and training Conducting post-overdose outreach through partnerships with emergency medical services (EMS), law enforcement, behavioral health and substance use treatment providers, and others Linking people to care and helping them navigate to needed services and evidence-based treatment, such as medication for opioid use disorder (e.g., access to FDA-approved medications, such as methadone and buprenorphine) Reducing rather than promoting homelessness by providing services for individuals with substance use disorder

RFA Section 5:

Evaluation Committee, Evaluation Criteria, and Selection Procedure

Evaluation Committee (Section 5.1) Responsible for reviewing & evaluating applications Primarily composed of MDH staff May seek advice or assistance from outside committee, as appropriate

Technical Application Evaluation Criteria (Section 5.2) In descending order of importance:

Applicant meets RFA mandatory requirements (Section 2). Those who do not may be excluded from further consideration.

Proposed project SOW requirements (Section 3), including ORP services & at least 3 Core Activities Proposed project aligns with ACCESS principles & evidence-based practices (Section 3.1) Applicant is, or proposes to become, an OADPOP If current/former ACCESS grantee, applicant has history of meeting goals/objectives and COA compliance.

Applicant demonstrates prior work in outreach/engagement w/ PWUD Project Narrative demonstrates sufficient staff capacity to implement project Applicant’s population of focus is appropriate for proposed project.

Applicant agrees to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Budget Narrative Evaluation Criteria (Section 5.3) Budget aligns with (i.e. does not exceed) applicant-specific annual funding limit Reasonable & appropriate costs given time/effort described in Project Narrative Alignment with allowable costs under the ACCESS grant program (see Attachment G) Alignment of proposed costs with MDH fund source availability.

Award Selection Procedures (Section 5.4) Applicants determined to be non-responsive or not reasonably susceptible of being selected for award will be notified by MDH.

Evaluation Committee will score and rank all applications determined to be responsive and reasonably susceptible of being selected for award.

Evaluation Committee reports scores and ranking to Contract Officer.

Contract Officer recommends awards to agency leadership.

How to Submit Application

How to Submit Application Register with eMMA (it’s free).

Go to https://procurement.maryland.gov/ Click on “eMMA” (upper right corner menu) Click “New Vendor? Register Now” Follow the prompts

Submit application via eMMA by January 22, 2026, 4:00 PM EST All documents submitted as part of Volume I (Technical Application) must be uploaded as separate attachments from those documents submitted as part of Volume II (Budget Narrative) This is to ensure that no budget or financial information is included in any document that is part of Volume I!

Volume I The following documents should be uploaded in their original MS Word format:

Attachment D: Project Narrative Attachment E: Performance Measures & Benchmarks All other required documents may be uploaded separately or combined

Volume II Attachment B: ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook

OR

Attachment C: Budget Narrative Template

Review of Attachments

Attachments Attachment A: RFA Document Checklist Attachment B: ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (MS Excel) Attachment C: Budget Narrative Template (MS Word form) Attachment D: Project Narrative (MS Word form) Attachment E: Performance Measures & Benchmarks (MS Word form) Attachment F: ACCESS Grant Program Conditions of Award Attachment G: ACCESS Grant Program Allowable & Unallowable Costs Attachment H: Summary of Certain Federal Fund Requirements & Restrictions Attachment I: Debarment Affirmation Attachment J: Certification Regarding Tobacco Smoke Attachment K: Certification Regarding Lobby

Attachment A: RFA Document Checklist

Attachment B: ACCESS Budget Narrative Workbook (MS Excel)

Attachment B: Obtaining Applicant-Specific Annual Funding Limit

For current (FY26) ACCESS grantees:

Check “Yes” box

2. Enter your BHA award #

For current (FY26) ACCESS grantees:

If “Yes” box is checked but no valid award # entered, Funding Limit field displays “No Award # Match”

For current (FY26) ACCESS grantees, when a valid BHA award # is entered AND “Yes” box is checked;

Annual funding limit is displayed Grantee name is displayed

For applicants that are NOT (FY26) ACCESS grantees:

Make sure…

“Yes” box is NOT checked

Award # field is empty

For applicants that are NOT (FY26) ACCESS grantees:

Enter your organization’s name

Select ALL jurisdictions where proposing to provide ACCESS-funded services

For applicants that are NOT (FY26) ACCESS grantees:

Funding limit is displayed.

The funding limit is based on that of the selected jurisdiction with the highest vulnerability index rating.

Attachment B: Budget Summary

Displays totals by budget category based on line items entered into other worksheets.

Project Period & Budget Period 1 are locked to the 12-month period & start/end dates for SFY27 Difference field is calculated by subtracting Total Costs from Funding Limit.

Enter the Indirect Cost (IDC) rate in the field under Budget Period 1.

Total Indirect Costs is calculated by multiplying IDC % by Total Direct Costs.

If Total Costs exceed the Funding Limit, the Difference amount will be negative and displayed in red.

Attachment C: Budget Narrative Template

Designed to capture same info as Attachment B Locked MS Word form No auto calculation Enter into blue highlighted fields only Fields expand to capture necessary information

Attachment D: Project Narrative

Enter key information about Applicant organization & officers

Attachment D: Project Narrative

Respond to each section in the blue highlighted field Ensure response fully addresses required information detailed in the RFA Exhibit A and summarized in the prompt Fields have character limits that approximate the word count limit for each response.

Attachment E: Performance Measures & Benchmarks

Enter benchmarks (targets) for each quantitative PM Enter narrative progress report for required, Core & Other Allowable Activities

Questions?

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