NOI_W27023

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services is announcing its intent to submit a federal grant application to SAMHSA for the FY 2026 First Responders - Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA) program, with an application deadline of August 7, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. The notice identifies Health Resources in Action and Addiction Response Resources as intended training and technical assistance partners but invites organizations with equal qualifications to submit competing qualifications.

The initiative is a comprehensive, community-based opioid overdose prevention and response program targeting first responder capacity, community-based overdose prevention, access to medications for opioid use disorder (including buprenorphine and methadone), cross-sector partnerships, and performance evaluation. HRiA will develop and deliver training on overdose prevention, emerging drug trends, responder safety, and evidence-based post-overdose referral pathways; facilitate peer-to-peer learning among community anchors; and expand the Neighborhood Overdose Prevention Education (NOPE) model to two additional communities. ARR will provide education and technical assistance to first responders and cross-sector partners on overdose prevention and response, building on its existing work under the BSAS COSSUP grant.

The scope encompasses expanded training offerings, capacity-building activities including train-the-trainer models, naloxone distribution programs, and sustainable local expertise development across multiple communities. SAMHSA anticipates awarding 44 to 118 state and local awardees under this program nationally. The notice does not specify the total Massachusetts grant amount or budget allocation. Organizations seeking consideration as alternative partners must submit qualifications with the subject line "MA FR-CARA_W27023" to Ryan H. Naismith at ryan.h.naismith@mass.gov by August 7, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.