Q&A draft for ATOD_1.22.26.pdf

Q&As for BPM054749

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Centers

1/22/2026

1. Are we to include 4 years in our budgets for this RFA? If so, do we need to break down/separate each fiscal year? Also, can it be all on one document?

Answer: Yes, all 4 years shall be included in the budget. It should be in one document with different columns for each of the fiscal years, and the option year should be included as well.

2. Is there a specific template that we have to use for the budget?

Answer: Exhibit B is the template/format that applicants shall use for the budget.

Exhibit C is the template for the budget narrative that applicants shall use. The budget format (Exhibit B) has space for one (1) fiscal year. The budget should reflect all fiscal years and include the option year.

3. Section 3.2.1.3 states that a strategic plan is due within 90 days of the award;

however, section 3.2 B states that the key requirement of developing a Two-Year Strategic Plan must be completed before the end of year one of the award… Please clarify.

Answer: Please disregard the requirement in A under section 3.2.1.3 (Deliverables).

Please see the addendum.

4. Are we submitting a strategic plan with the application or describing the process for the submission and producing that later?

Answer: No, it is not required to submit a strategic plan with the application. The applicant would describe the process for the strategic plan and then produce the strategic plan later.

5. eMMA question – Where do you submit in applications in eMMA (I do not see it on my screen)?

Answer: After you have added a Solicitation to your profile, acknowledged receipt of the Solicitation, and submitted your intent to respond, you should see an option to Prepare Response. If you are unable to get to this step or having any technical issues with the eMMA platform you may contact the eMMA Helpdesk at emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov. They do not have a direct phone number, but they are very responsive.

6. Will eMMA ever consider doing a virtual tutorial for vendors?

Answer: eMMA does have virtual tutorials for vendors. You can locate and register for them at https://procurement.maryland.gov/vendor-training-and-resources/.

eMMA also has QRGs available for step-by-step instructions to navigate the platform. QRGs are Quick Reference Guides and they cover instructions for many actions in eMMA, including responding to solicitations and navigating and updating roles for your organization’s team members. You can locate all of eMMA’s QRGs at https://procurement.maryland.gov/emma-qrgs/.

7. May you provide an example of how to provide proof for the history of reaching target populations in section 2.1.5?

Answer: An example would be an applicant discussing their experience and projects in reaching the target populations in section 2.1.5. Applicants are welcome to provide outcome data to validate their experiences in reaching the target population.

8. For Mandatory Requirement 2.1.9, how do you define Good Standing?

Answer: In the state of Maryland, “good standing” means a business entity has met all state legal requirements, primarily by filing annual reports, paying fees/taxes (including personal and property), and maintaining a registered agent, allowing it to legally operate, get licenses, and prove legitimacy with a Certificate of Status issued by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Your organization is not required to provide proof of good standing with your application, however, you must in good standing to receive an award.

mailto:emma.helpdesk@maryland.gov https://procurement.maryland.gov/vendor-training-and-resources/ https://procurement.maryland.gov/emma-qrgs/

9. For section 3.2.1.2, are you looking for letters from partners that we have on campus or community organizations? Please clarify who these letters should be requested from.

Answer: The letters should be from partnerships with community organizations.

10. The project PI is requesting clarification on the Certificate of Good Standing requirement. Our organization does not have a certificate of good standing. Do we need some other form of documentation or is it ok to just leave out that requirement in our application packet?

Answer: The requirement is that any organization applying must be in good standing with the State of Maryland. Providing documentation for this is not required for applying to this RFA.

11. Multiple questions were asked about Exhibit B. Please see the answer to those questions here.

Exhibit B instructs applicants not to amend or alter the budget form. However, the Pre-Application Q&A directs applicants to include all four fiscal years plus the option year in one document, with separate columns for each year—even though Exhibit B only accommodates a single fiscal year. Could the Department clarify how applicants should present multiple fiscal years using Exhibit B without altering the form? Specifically:

May applicants duplicate the Exhibit B template within the same PDF for each fiscal year and the option year?

Or should applicants add columns to the single Exhibit B table, despite the “do not amend” instruction?

Will an updated template be provided or can we make adjustments to the original form?

Are applicants permitted to recreate the Exhibit B form in a spreadsheet (e.g., Excel) using the exact same fields and layout—as long as no items, fields, or structure are altered?

Answer: Applicants may duplicate the Exhibit B template for each fiscal year and the option year.

12. Are applicants expected to include the CSAP strategy and the five performance measures within the Work Plan template (Attachment C)? — or — Should the CSAP strategy and associated performance measures be addressed only in the Project Narrative, as part of the evaluation criteria response? If CSAP strategies and their performance measures must be reflected in the Work Plan, could the Department clarify where in Attachment C they should be placed, since the template does not include a designated section for them?

Answer: No. The work plan is to provide an overview of how the applicant will accomplish the requirements in section 3.2 - Scope of Work. The strategic plan will be developed after an awardee is chosen. The CSAP strategies are not to be included in the work plan. A revised work plan (Attachment C) is provided. The Person(s) Responsible column has been renamed to Position(s) Responsible.

13. In the Q&A response document it states that our letters of reference should come from partnerships with community organizations. The majority of our programming occurs in partnership with on campus departments/offices/student services. Would letters of reference from our on campus partners (i.e. Student Code of Conduct, Counseling Services, Student Experience) be acceptable?

Answer: Yes. Letters of reference may be provided by campus and/or community partners.

14. Should salaries and fringe be listed in Exhibit B by individual staff member (e.g., separate line items for each position)?

Answer: The budget (exhibit B) should include a single line item for salaries and a single line item for fringe benefits. In the budget narrative (exhibit C), the applicant should itemize each position, including the salary, the corresponding full-time equivalent (FTE) percentage, and fringe.

15. If salaries must be broken out by individual staff member, should each person be added as a separate salary line within the existing Exhibit B template?

Answer: Salaries shall not be broken out by each individual staff member in Exhibit B. In the budget narrative (exhibit C), the applicant shall itemize each position, including the salary, the corresponding full-time equivalent (FTE) percentage and fringe.

16. Are applicants permitted to enter a single total amount for all personnel in the Salary and Fringe lines in Exhibit B, and then provide the required breakdown (per person, FTE %, salary rate, and fringe calculations) solely in Exhibit C (Budget Narrative)?

Answer: Applicants shall enter a single total amount for all personnel in the Salaries and Fringe lines in Exhibit B. The applicant would provide the required breakdown (salary per person, FTE %, fringe) in the budget narrative (exhibit C).

17. If we plan to hire peer educators (student workers) should we include the expenditure in the contractual line item or under other (specify) line item?

Answer:

The peer educator expenditures should be included in the contractual line item.