Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services: FAQ

Questions and answers for the Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services Request for Proposal (RFP) will be posted here as they become available. If you have questions about your application, please email us at: health.preventionrfp@state.mn.us. 

*NOTE: Attachment A and Attachment C were updated on Dec 8th, 2023

Q: Are Universities that work with Tribal Nations/Communities eligible to apply for this RFP. 

A: No. In Category A, eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit or tribal syringe services programs (SSPs) operating in Minnesota. In Category B, eligible applicants are limited to non-profit community-based organizations. Collaborations are welcome if the fiscal host/applicant agency is an eligible applicant.

Q: I have just formed an LLC recently. I will be providing resources and navigation services to  BIPOC communities in Ramsey county for SUD prevention and awareness as well as connecting those in active addiction to treatment and harm reduction programs. Would my organization be eligible to apply for this grant?

A: In Category A, eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit or tribal syringe services programs (SSPs) operating in Minnesota. In Category B, eligible applicants are limited to non-profit community-based organizations. Collaborations are welcome if the fiscal host/applicant agency is an eligible applicant. 

Q: Where can I find the application for the grant? 

A: The Request for Proposal and additional grant materials can be found: Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services Request for Proposal (RFP)

Q: What is the length of the grant?

A: The estimated grant start date is March 1, 2024, and the projected end date is August 31, 2028, contingent on satisfactory grantee performance and funding availability.

Q: In the RFP it states low-cost incentives to clients to support successful referrals are eligible expenses however it does not say what those would be. Could you give examples on what is eligible? Are gas cards an eligible expense for client incentives? 

A: If you plan to include low-cost incentives in your budget, please state what low-cost incentives would be the most helpful for your client population. A few examples of approved low-cost incentives are as follows: hand warmers, granola bars, gas cards, bottled water, etc. MDH will work with funded projects to confirm the eligibility of other items not included on this list.  

Q: For the narrative, do you want us to answer the questions on that form or have it typed out? 

A: Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Microsoft Word template provided at MDH Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder Care and Harm Reduction Services RFP. You can download the Application Narrative (Attachment A) and enter your responses to each prompt in the Microsoft Word. When you have finalized your responses, please save this document as a PDF for application submission.

Q: Who are eligible applicants for Category A: Harm Reduction Navigators? 

A: Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit or tribal syringe services programs operating in Minnesota. For the purposes of this grant, only organizations who distribute no-cost syringes can apply. 

Q: I understand that the letter of intent for this grant has already closed, but I wanted to ask if it is still possible to apply for the grant for my program. 

A: Yes, you can apply for the grant opportunity. The letter of intent was not required. Application materials can be found on the main page at Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services Request for Proposal (RFP) The complete application, must be submitted by Friday, December 22, 2023, 4:30 p.m. (CST), to health.preventionrfp@state.mn.us 

Q: Who are eligible applicants for Category A: Harm Reduction Navigators? 

A: Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit or tribal syringe services programs operating in Minnesota. For the purposes of this grant, only organizations who distribute no-cost syringes can apply. 

Q: Is naloxone an eligible expense? 

A: No, naloxone is not an eligible expense for this grant program.  

Q: What email address should I use to submit my grant application? 

A: Please email your completed application to: health.preventionrfp@state.mn.us 

Q: I am noticing that on the budget template document supplied for this RFP there is a “4.5 Year Budget Summary” tab that is not editable and doesn’t auto populate from the inputs from the “Sample 12-month budget” tab. I just want to make sure that we submit a fully accurate budget with our application and hope you can provide some direction on how we should proceed. 

Q: I’m reaching out with a question for the SUD Navigator RFP. I see that someone has asked a question about Attachment C – Budget and the 12-month summary vs. 4.5 year summary. I’ve downloaded the most recent version available on the RFP’s website but am running into an issue – the 4.5 year tab populates with just a 12 month budget (so the total ask for 4.5 years reads as $80,000 when I’d like it to read $400,000, the max ask). Can you provide some guidance on how to proceed?

A: This answer is for the two questions above; the answer was updated on Dec 8th. The 4.5 year budget summary should not auto populate from the Sample 12-month budget tab. You should enter both a sample 12-month budget narrative with a total of $80,000 in the “Sample 12-month budget” tab AND a 4.5-year budget summary with a total of $400,000 in the 4.5-Year Budget Summary tab. The updated budget spreadsheet can be found: Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services

Q: In Attachment A (Narrative) Under “Project Design, Implementation, and Performance Measurement: The #9 question states “Describe the outcomes you will work to achieve at the end of the 2-year grant period (i.e., what changes among the focus population(s) do you hope to achieve?).” However, the RFP states that the estimated grant starts March 1, 2024 and the projected end date is August 31, 2028. Do you only want what we intend to accomplish in only the first two years or is this a mistype? Can you clarify?

A: You are correct. That was a mistype. The prompt has been updated to read: “Describe the outcomes you will work to achieve by the end of the grant period (i.e., what changes among the focus population(s) do you hope to achieve?).”

Q: Can the year 1 budget be $88,888  (400k/4.5), or is 80,000 the maximum for that first year? 

A: The maximum year 1 budget is $80,000.  

Q: For Category A proposals – is the expectation that a 1.0 FTE will be allocated on the budget or are partial FTE proposals acceptable? 

A: See page 11 of the RFP. 1.0 FTE navigator is a requirement for both category A and B. This could be split across multiple staff. For example, a proposal could budget for (2) .5 FTE. 

Q: Would you please tell me why Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are ineligible to apply for the Harm Reduction Navigator grant? We are a Federally Qualified Health Center with a large and effective outreach and health navigation program. We meet all of the other eligibility standards. 

A: Federally Qualified Health Centers ARE eligible applicants for category A if they are also an syringe service provider that distributed no-cost syringes. See page five of the RFP. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit or tribal syringe services programs operating in Minnesota. For the purposes of this grant, only organizations who distribute no-cost syringes can apply. Federally Qualified Health Centers are NOT an eligible applicant for category B per the guidance of our federal funder. The federal funder has determined that Federally Qualified Health Centers are not eligible applicants for the Community-Based Linkage to SUD Navigator category.

Q: Can you confirm whether an amount exceeding $80,000 per year is acceptable for the grant?  

A: The maximum year 1 budget is $80,000. You should enter both a sample 12-month budget narrative with a total of $80,000 in the “Sample 12-month budget” tab AND a 4.5-year budget summary with a total of $400,000 in the 4.5-Year Budget Summary tab. The updated budget spreadsheet can be found here: Utilizing Navigators to Support Linkage to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Care and Harm Reduction Services.