SOI 1275 Fatherhood Questions and Answers FINAL.pdf

Responses to Questions for SOI 1275 New York Statewide Fatherhood Engagement Initiative

Q1 Our organization has operated an established parenting education program for more than one year that serves parents and caregivers of all genders. While the program is not exclusively designated as a fatherhood program, fathers and father figures have consistently participated in and successfully completed our parenting classes.

We are interested in this funding opportunity as a way to build upon our existing programming and more intentionally expand our parenting education and engagement opportunities for fathers and father figures.

Would our established parenting program, with documented participation and engagement of fathers/father figures, satisfy the eligibility requirement of having a “fatherhood engagement program serving children and families in New York State” in existence for at least one year?

A1 Official eligibility determination will be made by OCFS during formal eligibility review. See the Eligibility Criteria section of SOI 1275.

Q2 We are an experienced nonprofit organization with a strong track record of implementing programs supported by government funding. For several years, we have operated a parent engagement and support program that has had strong participation from fathers. We also have experienced staff with expertise in fatherhood engagement and support who are actively involved in delivering the program.

Could you please let us know whether our organizational experience and existing program structure would meet the criteria for this funding?

A2 Official eligibility determination will be made by OCFS during formal eligibility review. See the Eligibility Criteria section of SOI 1275.

Q3 Is the $10,000 granted monthly or annually?

A3 Up to $10,000 will be granted for the entirety of the contract award.

Q4 Is this reward continuous?

A4 No.

Q5 Will OCFS provide the space for the program facilitation?

A5 No.

Q6 Will the fathers and children be referred from another agency to enroll in the program?

A6 OCFS is unable to determine this for an applicant.

Q7 Is there a frequency requirement for the programming?

A7 No.

Q8 The SOI states, "Awarded applicants will collect and report participant and program outcome information, as requested by OCFS, to support evaluation of this pilot initiative." Would you be able to expand on what will be expected of awardees?

A8 Per the solicitation, “Projects should demonstrate how proposed activities support measurable improvements in father engagement, parenting knowledge, family stability, awareness of child care and family resources, and positive youth development, as appropriate to the proposed project.” OCFS would be looking for the relevant data collected from the measurable improvements, presented in a report that details progress on those specific metrics proposed in the application.

Responses to Questions for SOI 1275 New York Statewide Fatherhood Engagement Initiative

Q9 a) What is the service period intended to be for any potential award?

b) When would the funded activities have to take place?

A9 a) Per page 1 of the SOI, the term will begin no earlier than 10/1/2026 and end no later than 3/31/2027.

b) The funded activities must take place during the contract term. See A9(a) above.

Q10 Could you confirm if using the funds to alleviate the costs for fathers who are seeking to complete a certification program is an acceptable use of funds?

A10 If it falls under one of the categories of eligible services or eligible expenses listed in the Scope of Work section of the solicitation, then this may be considered acceptable.

Q11 a) Is using the funds to replicate a debt reduction program similar to OCSS an acceptable use of funds?

b) Given that the ACS childcare voucher program is facing a severe funding shortage, would using the funds to provide a similar type of support for families who may be in need be an acceptable use of funds?

A11 a) No.

b) No.

Q12 a) Could you confirm if indirect costs can be applied to proposals under this RFP?

b) If so, is there a cap to IDC?

c) And if an organization has a state/city approved IDC rate, would the organization still be able to charge that rate regardless of any cap?

A12 a) No. See Eligible Expenses section of the SOI. “Eligible expenses are limited to Non- Personal Services (NPS) and other direct programmatic costs”. Therefore, Indirect costs are not allowable.

b) Not applicable.

c) Not applicable.