Office of Grants Administration Bureau Request for Applications

Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence (COE)

MHA-FY23- Office of Community Treatment Services-RFA#22

• Funding Period: 02-17-2023 – 09-29-2023
• Request for Applications Posting Date: 01-20-2023
• Request for Applications Due Date: 02-10-2023, by 3 p.m. EDT

Grants Posting Evaluation Criteria for Request for Applications (RFA)

Grants Administration Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence (COE)

Applications should be completed using the following information, guidance, and requirements:

SECTION I.       GENERAL PURPOSE & APPLICANT INFORMATION

1.1  Purpose

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) releases this Request for Applications (RFA) for the purpose of soliciting applications from existing institutions of higher education, health care organizations, or other non-profit organizations to develop a SUD Center of Excellence (COE). The COE will build and/or expand infrastructure to support the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based and evidence-supported practices and policies regarding substance use disorders associated with high mortality, including opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder. The COE should provide guidance and support for evidence-based and evidence-supported practices to community-based organizations across that state. The COE will be expected to collaborate with state organizations, ADAMHS Boards, and community stakeholders to provide training and the most relevant research on evidence-based and evidence-supported practices related to substance misuse, information on their sustainability, and information on their relevance to culturally diverse clients. OhioMHAS will award funding only to one qualified institution of higher education, health care organization, or community organization that is a non-profit organization or governmental entity that can demonstrable skill, expertise, and the ability to execute the goals and objectives of the State serving as a statewide resource.

For the purpose of this RFA, the term “applicant” is defined as an institution of higher education, health care organization, or other non-profit organization interested in this opportunity. The terms “application” and “response” may be used interchangeably to indicate materials submitted to OhioMHAS by an applicant in order to be considered for award of a grant for services described in this RFA. The terms “grantee” and “selected applicant” may be used interchangeably in reference to an organization selected by OhioMHAS through this RFA for award.

1.2  Overview of the Project

The purpose of this RFA is to identify an institution of higher education, health care organization, or other non-profit organization to develop and implement an Ohio SUD Center of Excellence (COE). The SUD COE will focus on evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for substance use disorders associated with high mortality, including opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use. The SUD Center of Excellence aligns with Governor Mike DeWine’s plans to build and enhance statewide infrastructure for a fully integrated behavioral health system of care. The creation of a new, dedicated SUD COE will allow Ohio to develop its growing workforce by educating them on best practices in administrative management (e.g., best practices in patient engagement) along with best and emerging practices regarding the treatment of various substance use disorders (e.g., contingency management). Key to this effort will be the development of learning communities, whereby interested organizations can take part in one or more monthly calls about the best practices of interest. The SUD COE will also keep abreast of and disseminate information regarding local, state, and national trainings for provider organizations. The SUD COE will be expected to work with a statewide steering committee that will guide it development and implementation.

1.3  Issuing Office

This RFA is being issued by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Grants Administration Bureau.

1.4  Background

In 2020, Ohio had the fourth highest age-adjusted rate of unintentional drug overdose death at 45.6 deaths per 100,000 (CDC, 2022a). As of 2020, 86% of overdose deaths involved opioids, and 81% included fentanyl or fentanyl analogs (ODH, 2022). Also, stimulant related overdose deaths have steadily increased with 1 in 4 overdose deaths being cocaine-related in 2020 (ODH, 2022). Ohio’s future in navigating the opioid and stimulant crisis will include development of a SUD Center of Excellence awarded to one entity using data driven enhancements in research, training, treatment, sustainability, and education engaging a network of providers across the State.

1.5  Scope of Work

The selected organization must demonstrate leadership and the highest clinical quality in SUD treatment, programming, research, and education. The selected organization will be expected to fulfill the following deliverables:

Phase 1 (2/13/23 – 9/30/23)

• Hire staff to help organizations adopt, implement, and monitor evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices for substance use disorders associated with high mortality, including opioid use disorder, stimulant use disorder, and alcohol use disorder.
  • The vendor shall work with community behavioral health providers to accomplish this goal, including, but not limited to, Ohio’s Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) and Office Based Opioid Treatment (OBOT) Programs.
  • Work with a statewide steering committee to guide COE development and implementation. The steering committee will be made of members within OhioMHAS from key bureaus (e.g., treatment, peer support, recovery support) along with other state leaders. Meetings will likely be once a month during the project.\
  • Develop an organizational engagement and recruitment strategy for year one and year two of the award.
  • Inventory federal, state, and other evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for substance use disorders associated with a high mortality.
  • Keep informed of all federal (e.g., https://pcssnow.org/ ; https://opioidresponsenetwork.org/, regional,  (e.g., https://attcnetwork.org/centers/content/great-lakes-attc, and state e.g., https://www.ebasedacademy.org/learn; https://case.edu/socialwork/centerforebp/ related training opportunities.
  • Create an online presence that explains each of these resources in depth and keeps a running online list of resources and events updated at least once every 30 days.
• Design a curriculum that instructs organizations on each of the following administrative topics:
  • Best practices in patient engagement Best practices in patient retention
  • Best practices in patient outcomes evaluation
  • Best practices in incorporating peer supporters into the organization
  • Topics associated with this area may touch upon areas like hiring the best peer candidates, understanding how to embed peer supporters in the clinical team, organizational ethics related to peer supporters, and dealing with peer supporter relapse
• Best practices in incorporating recovery supports into the organization
  • Topics associated with this area may touch upon areas that concern SAMHSA’s four dimensions of recovery: health, home, purpose, and community. For example, the purpose dimension may be satisfied by hosting trainings on the incorporation of vocational best practices into the organization.
• Begin a learning community for these administrative topics.
  • Learning communities should meet at least monthly for interactive presentations based on these topics.
  • Learning communities should focus on training the most appropriate organizational staff. For example, some trainings may be focused on counselors while other trainings ay be focused on administrative staff.
  • Trainings may incorporate guest speakers who serve as subject matter experts.
  • The learning community should be established within six months of grant award. 
• Design a curriculum that instructs organizations on at least one treatment-focused evidence-based/evidence-supported practice for each high-risk substance use disorder (i.e., a total of three the first year).
  • When appropriate, curriculum should incorporate a discussion of Prochaska and DiClemente’s Transtheoretical Model
  • Trainings and curricula should incorporate information on the applicability of these practices to culturally diverse clients and other specialty populations (e.g., pregnant women and veterans).
  • The COE is expected to be informed about the latest academic research in all the evidence-based and evidence-informed practices that it supports. The COE will provide summaries of the latest research on a quarterly basis.
  • Trainings and curricula may be made for advanced topics related to MAT like standardization of methadone medication practices across the state.
  • Trainings and curricula for 1) obtaining DEA data waivers and 2) basic administration of any form of medication assisted treatment (MAT) are not the focus of this center of excellence due to the wealth of existing trainings and curricula.
  • Curriculum for evidence-based and evidence-supported practices should not duplicate work done by other state-sponsored COEs.
  • Trainings and curricula should not be related to deployment of naloxone due to the existing work by other state departments and entities in this area.
• Disseminate protocols related to fidelity evaluation for each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices promoted by the COE. If no standardized fidelity tool exists, then the COE will develop a fidelity monitoring tool.
• Evaluate the fidelity of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices among participating organizations when requested.
• Begin a learning community for each evidence-based and evidence-supported practices.
  • Learning communities should meet at least monthly for interactive presentations related to each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported practices (i.e., one call per EBP and ESI per month).
  • Learning communities should focus on training the most appropriate organizational staff. For example, some trainings may be focused on counselors while other trainings ay be focused on administrative staff.
  • Trainings may incorporate guest speakers who serve as subject matter experts.
  • The learning community should be established within six months of grant award.  

Phase 2 (10/1/23 – 9/30/24)

• Maintain the inventory of federal, state, and other evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for substance use disorders associated with a high mortality.
• Keep informed of all federal e.g., https://pcssnow.org/ ; https://opioidresponsenetwork.org/, regional,  e.g., https://attcnetwork.org/centers/content/great-lakes-attc, and state e.g., https://www.ebasedacademy.org/learn; https://case.edu/socialwork/centerforebp/ related training opportunities.
• Develop an organizational engagement and recruitment strategy for year three and refine the strategy for year two as needed.
• Maintain a monthly learning community for administrative topics, including best practices in patient engagement, patient retention, patient outcomes evaluation, and incorporating peer supporters and other recovery supports into the organization.
• Design a curriculum that instructs organizations on at least three evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for each high-risk substance use disorder (i.e., a total of nine the second year).
• Disseminate protocols related to fidelity evaluation for each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices promoted by the COE.
• Evaluate the fidelity of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices among participating organizations when requested.
• Maintain a learning community for each of the COEs evidence-based and evidence-supported practices.
  • Learning communities should meet at least monthly for interactive presentations related to each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported practices (i.e., one call per EBP and ESI per month).
• Develop a strategy to promote the sustainability of the COE beyond discontinuation of the funding period.
• Evaluate evidence gaps for persons with substance use disorder that put persons at high risk for mortality and develop a plan to advise the Department on those gaps, including strategies to develop new evidence-based or evidence-supported practices.

Phase 3 (10/1/24 – 9/30/25)

• Maintain the inventory of federal, state, and other evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for substance use disorders associated with a high mortality.
• Keep informed of all federal e.g., https://pcssnow.org/; https://opioidresponsenetwork.org/, regional,  e.g., https://attcnetwork.org/centers/content/great-lakes-attc, and state (e.g., https://www.ebasedacademy.org/learn; https://case.edu/socialwork/centerforebp/ related training opportunities.
• Refine the organizational engagement and recruitment strategy for year three as needed.
• Maintain a monthly learning community for administrative topics, including best practices in patient engagement, patient retention, patient outcomes evaluation, and incorporating peer supporters and other recovery supports into the organization.
• Design a curriculum that instructs organizations on at least six evidence-based and evidence-supported practices for each high-risk substance use disorder (i.e., a total of 12 the third year).
• Disseminate protocols related to fidelity evaluation for each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices promoted by the COE.
• Evaluate the fidelity of the evidence-based and evidence-supported treatment practices among participating organizations when requested.
• Maintain a learning community for each of the COEs evidence-based and evidence-supported practices.
  • Learning communities should meet at least monthly for interactive presentations related to each of the evidence-based and evidence-supported practices (i.e., one call per EBP and ESI per month).
• Enact the strategy to promote the sustainability of the COE beyond discontinuation of the funding period.
• With approval from OhioMHAS, develop one new evidence-based or evidence-supported practice, with the goal of filling a critical gap found in the previous year’s analysis for persons with SUD at high-risk for mortality.

1.6  Eligible Applicants

OhioMHAS seeks applications from institutions of higher education, medical centers, or other organizations that have the skill, expertise, knowledge, and capacity to collaborate with organizations across the state to evaluate, develop, and implement the highest quality SUD treatment, programming, training, and research to create a continuum of care for Ohioans with SUD and co-occurring mental health issues. Prior experience hosting a center of excellence is not required for the application; all interested entities are encouraged to apply.

Only organizations that have the resources to complete each item under “Scope of Work/Deliverables” should apply. Applicants must be a 501-(c)(3) or a non-profit organization or a government entity.

1.7  Award

The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services has released this request for applications (RFA) with the intent of awarding up to $2,000,000.00 per federal fiscal year to one academic institution, medical center, or other organization, which will in turn support the development and implementation of an SUD Center of Excellence. At this time, the Department has received the federal funding for Phase 1 of the project. Awards for Phases 2 and 3 of the project are contingent on the Department’s receipt of federal funds. Applicants must be a non-profit organization or government entity.

The award for Phase 1 of the project is expected to be announced for project implementation the week of 02/13/2023.

The actual dollar amount awarded for the selected application will be based on the amount of state or federal funding made available to OhioMHAS. Applications are qualified if they are in accordance with the application submission requirements and earn at least the minimum score requirements for quality and completeness of applications, as specified in this RFA. Scoring and final selections will be completed by a team selected by OhioMHAS. To make its final selection of an application which will receive an award, OhioMHAS may, at its option, take into consideration application quality, reasonableness and appropriateness of the proposed budget, geographic diversity, local collaborations, and funding available.

OhioMHAS may, at its option, make selections based in part on geographical and demographic criteria in order to provide a wide range of services around the state, and in both urban and rural areas. Applicants are encouraged to prepare and submit applications and budgets which are both practicable and capable of development and implementation of an SUD Center of Excellence per the scope of work listed above.

Applicants are to be aware that OhioMHAS may, at its sole discretion, negotiate with all technically qualifying applicants for a revised Project Budget, if the Project Budgets of all technically qualifying applicants are in excess of the available funding for this project. Please refer to Section 7.1 C. of this RFA for further information on OhioMHAS procedures to be implemented if this occurs.

SECTION II.      Posting and Award PROCESS INFORMATION

2.1  Anticipated Timetable

1. The RFA, accompanying documents, and all questions and answers are/will be posted on this web page.
2. All questions must be submitted electronically no later than 02/1/2023, by 3 p.m. EDT, to OhioMHAS at: sudcoe@mha.ohio.gov
3. The FAQ mailbox will close one week prior to the application due date. No questions will be answered after the deadline. You may NOT contact any OhioMHAS staff member directly with questions regarding this RFA. Contacting staff directly with questions could result in disqualification of an application.
4. Responses to all questions (FAQ) will be posted on this web page and will be updated frequently.
5. Applications must be submitted electronically to sudcoe@mha.ohio.gov  by 02/10/2023 by 3 p.m. EDT.
6. Application grant notification letters will be sent approximately fourteen days post grant application closure.
7. OhioMHAS agreements are not valid and effective until the issuance of an approved State of Ohio Notice of Sub-Award (NOSA). The NOSA will contain the start and end dates of the award.
8. The grantee(s) must be able to begin work no later than seven (7) working days after the time funds are encumbered and approved by the Office of Budget & Management. The grantee(s) will be notified by the OhioMHAS Agreement Manager when work may begin. Any work begun by the grantee prior to this notification may not be reimbursable by OhioMHAS.
9. All work must be completed and approved by the OhioMHAS Agreement Manager. All work must be completed by 3:00 p.m. of the last day of the programmatic period as it appears on the NOSA.

It is the responsibility of all applicants to check the webpage dedicated to this RFA on a regular basis for responses to all questions, as well as for any amendments, alerts, or other pertinent information regarding this RFA. OhioMHAS is not responsible for the accuracy of any information regarding this RFA that was obtained or gathered through a source different from the Q & A process described in this RFA.

Should applicants experience technical difficulties accessing the OhioMHAS website where the RFA and its related documents are published, they may contact the OhioMHAS Helpdesk at (MHAHelpdesk@mha.ohio.gov) for guidance.

If a bidders conference is scheduled, it will be held February 3rd, at 1:00PM, at https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzFiZjQ1N2EtNGRkNC00OGU0LTkzMjAtYzIzNGM4Mjc3YWJl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2250f8fcc4-94d8-4f07-84eb-36ed57c7c8a2%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%229ea2f6e9-dbc7-4c77-a33b-78f00782ccf7%22%7d for any organization interested in learning more about this funding opportunity.

SECTION III.     APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The applicant must submit electronic response to sudcoe@mha.ohio.gov. A copy of the grant application must be received by OhioMHAS no later than (02/10/2023, by 3PM EDT). Applications received after this date and time will not be reviewed. Materials mailed or submitted separately from the application packet will not be accepted or added to the application/proposal by staff of OhioMHAS. Faxed or mailed applications will not be accepted. Costs incurred in the preparation of this application are to be borne by the applicant; OhioMHAS will not contribute in any way to the costs of the preparation.

Page Limit

The page limit for this application is 15 pages, single spaced, on-inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman. The 15 pages do not include the Budget Expenditure Form and Budget Narrative.

Application Components

Face-sheet

1. Name of applicant organization, address, phone number
2. Executive director name and contact information
3. Project Director name and contact information
4. Fiscal officer name and contact information
5. Applicant’s federal tax ID
6. Specify whether applicant is a non-profit organization or government entity
7. Title of this RFA
8. Amount of funding requested

Abstract

Summary of services and supports to be provided, the target population(s), number of individuals projected to be served in the first and second funding period, the goal(s) and object(s) of the proposed services and supports, and the total amount of funding requested for the first and second funding period. (400 words or less)

Scope of the Work/Project Description:

Provide a detailed description of the proposed approach to completing each deliverable and timeline for completing each deliverable. In the project description, please also include the following information.

1. Target Population
2. Number to be Served
3. National Outcome Measures (NOMS): Applications must include a description of the project goals and measures to be achieved during the programmatic project period.
4. Applicant Qualifications: The applicant must address all the minimum qualifications and fully describe the applicant’s experience and qualifications.
5. Staffing Plan: The applicant’s response must identify by position and name the staff who will be key to the project’s success. Include qualifications and the service providers’ level of subject matter expertise implementing the proposed services and supports.
6. Sub-Awardee qualifications and staffing plan (if applicable)
7. Adherence to the National CLAS Standards:
   1. Link to National CLAS Standards https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=2&lvlid=53
   2. How diverse cultural health beliefs and practices will be implemented in a culturally competent and trauma informed manner
   3. How preferred languages will be honored
   4. How to meet health literacy and other communication needs of all sub-populations identified in the proposal

Outcome Measures

Applications must include a description of the project goals and outcomes to be achieved; a detailed methodology for measuring progress; benchmarks that provide an indication of standards to achieved; a methodology for tracking progress achievements or shortfalls; and a methodology for analyzing and correcting project errors.

Budget Expenditure Form and Budget Narrative

1. Applications must include a Budget Expenditure Form and Budget Narrative that identifies all costs to complete the project as described in the Request for Application.
2. Include a signed Notice of Award/Sub-Awardee Statement of Assurances including budget and budget narrative for each sub-awardee.
3. Include the Budget Checklist which can be found on the OhioMHAS Funding Opportunities Page.

SECTION IV.     CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION SCORING

4.1  Scoring Applications

OhioMHAS will enter into agreement(s) with a grantee(s) that best demonstrates the ability to meet requirements as specified in the RFA. Applicants submitting a response will be evaluated based on the capacity and experience demonstrated in their Application and Project Budget. All applications will be reviewed and scored by a team from OhioMHAS.

OhioMHAS is under no obligation to issue an agreement as a result of this solicitation if, in the opinion of OhioMHAS and the Scoring Team, none of the applications are responsive to the objectives and needs of the Department. OhioMHAS reserves the right not to select any application should OhioMHAS decide not to proceed.

All applications and any other documents submitted to OhioMHAS in response to any solicitation shall become the property of OhioMHAS. This RFA and, after the selection of an applicant for award, any applications received in response to a solicitation that have been opened, reviewed, and considered by OhioMHAS are deemed to be public records pursuant to ORC 149.43. For purposes of this section, the term “application” shall mean both the Technical Application and the Project Budget submitted by an applicant and any attachments, addenda, appendices, resumes, letters of recommendation, or sample products.

A. Criteria for Scoring

All applications will be scored based on the available points per section according to the following scale, based on a proposed plan’s ability to meet the objectives outlined in this RFA. The application scoring uses the following point values for rating each requirement:

Technical Performance Scoring Definitions:

“Does Not Meet Requirement”- applicant did not address a particular RFA requirement in the application,

Score: 0

“Partially Meets Requirement”- applicant demonstrates some attempt at meeting a particular RFA requirement, but that attempt falls below acceptable level, Score: 1-5

“Meets Requirement”- applicant fulfills a particular RFA requirement in all material respects, potentially with only minor, non-substantial deviation, Score: 6-10

“Exceeds Requirement”- applicant fulfills a particular RFA requirement in all material respects, and offers some additional level of quality in excess of OhioMHAS expectations, Score: 7-20

Award

1. The award for Phase 1 is expected to be announced during the week of 02/13/2023
2. The grant award for Phase 1 will not exceed $2,000,000.00 for the grant recipient.
3. All grant funds for Phase 1 must be expended by 09/29/2023.
4. Renewals for Phases 2 and 3 are subject to successful performance and the availability of future funds.

Deadline for submission of all applications is 02/10/2023, 3 p.m. EDT and must be submitted to sudcoe@mha.ohio.gov.