Notice of Funds Available (RFP) Print Apply for this Grant

Specifications

General Information

A Call for Investment (CFI) is the way the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (the Council) asks for proposals for projects that will help the Council achieve the goals outlined in its five–year state plan. Staff Contact: Margaret Harkness CFI Applicant Information Meeting: Council staff will host an informational webinar to discuss this CFI and answer applicant questions. Attendance at this webinar is encouraged but not mandatory. It will be recorded and can be shared to those who RSVP. The Vaccine Wraparound Informational Webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 10 a.m. CDT via WEBEX. Register at the link below. INFORMATINAL WEBINAR: Illinoisans with Disabilities Vaccine Wraparound Initiative Wednesday, June 9, 2021 10:00 AM | (UTC-05:00) Central Time (US & Canada) | 1 hr 30 mins Register Here

Council Mission and Performance Objective

The mission of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (hereafter referred to as “The Council”) is to help lead change in Illinois so all people with intellectual/developmental disabilities exercise their right to equal opportunity and freedom.

The Council’s vision is that “every person in Illinois has the same rights, opportunities, and the ability to exercise choices so they can achieve self-worth and personal fulfillment in all aspects of life.”

The Council believes that to achieve its vision Illinois will benefit from the opportunity to implement creative, new approaches and practices. The Council believes that people with intellectual/developmental disabilities are eager to live life more fully and will readily share their preferences and desires.

The objective for this CFI is to execute the assurance to the Administration for Community Living to increase access to Covid-19 vaccines for people with disabilities. The Council expects projects to begin August 1, 2021 and end August 31, 2022.

Purpose of this CFI

The purpose of this CFI is to provide person-centered wraparound supports to people with disabilities to increase the number of vaccinations for people with disabilities and those that support them personally and professionally.

Background:

Approximately 61 million adults living within the U.S. have a disability, representing approximately 26 percent of the adult population. People with disabilities may have an increased risk for contracting COVID-19 based on where they live or the services they receive. Some people with disabilities live in group settings which places them at higher risk for acquiring COVID-19 in comparison to people without disabilities. People with disabilities may also require close contact with direct service providers, including personal care attendants or other care providers, who help with activities of daily living. People with disabilities work in the community, attend a day program, attend school, live at home independently or with support, or may be homebound. Moreover, many people with disabilities have underlying health conditions (e.g. diabetes, heart disease, and obesity) that increase the risk of severe illness due to COVID-19. In addition, research has also found that people with Down Syndrome are significantly more likely to be hospitalized from COVID-19 than the general population. There are increasing reports of barriers and unequal access in communities to vaccinate people with disabilities. For example, some people with disabilities may experience difficulties scheduling appointments, communicating, obtaining accessible transportation, or require direct support services to attend vaccination appointments. Others living in the community may be isolated or unable to leave their home and may require in-home vaccination.

The specific Performance Target for a project under this investment opportunity is:

By August 30, 2022, the number of fully vaccinated people with disabilities and those that support them within a self-defined geographical boundary will increase through the provision of vaccine wraparound services.

Expectations of Funding Recipients:

• Grantees will document the development, implementation, barriers, and successes of their proposed ideas and activities to share with ICDD and larger disability community during and beyond the project timeframe.

General Requirements for Proposals

The Council requests that you follow our policies. These may be viewed at https://www.illinois.gov/icdd/Pages/Council.aspx or you may request a hard copy by contacting our receptionist at 217.782.9696.

All Council projects must promote integration/inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Council also encourages outreach to unserved and underserved populations. These include individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, marginalized individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals from underserved geographic (rural and urban) and poverty areas.

This Call for Investment is open to community-based organizations with experience serving people with disabilities. Additionally, ICDD wants to award an entity with proven established relationships in your geographical boundary. Please include at least 2 additional letters of support from partners you plan to formally collaborate with in this effort. Collaboration entities can include but are not limited to:

• Local health departments
• Medical providers
• Schools
• Faith based communities
• Local government
• Community based nonprofits
• Local businesses
• Transportation providers
• Other

Givens

Givens define what you can and cannot do. These are principles that the review team feels are non-negotiable. A successful proposal must demonstrate incorporation of all Givens. If all Givens are not clearly reflected in your proposal, it will be disqualified.

Describe how and why your project will demonstrate a commitment to each of the Givens rather than include them verbatim.

1. Projects describe their target unvaccinated population and have a strategy to reach and engage them.

2. Projects will identify the specific assistance and support needed by targeted individuals to reach project goals for people vaccinated.

Funds may be used for the following activities (not an exclusive list):

• Seeking out and identifying people with disabilities and those who support them who are unable to independently travel to vaccine sites
• Providing education about the vaccine to bust myths and address hesitancy in accessible formats that could also include languages other than English as needed
• Helping with scheduling vaccine appointments
o Can be completed by using existing free vaccination sites, setting up vaccine sites, or arranging vaccines for individuals who are homebound through already existing State of Illinois programs
• Arranging and providing accessible transportation
• Providing companion/personal supports through each stage from scheduling to receipt of final shot
• Providing technical assistance to local health departments or other entities necessary on accessibility of vaccine sites

We know that the COVID-19 vaccination needs are fluid. The activity period for this grant will end on August 31, 2022 and likely many changes will occur in this timeframe. With approval from ICDD staff, work plans can also adjust to accommodate the following as needed:

• Vaccine wraparound services as described above for additional vaccination eligible age groups of people with disabilities as they are established
• Vaccine wraparound services as described above for booster shots if needed
• Ongoing updated information campaigns as needed

3. Proposer must have the capacity to coordinate planning and to oversee and ensure implementation of all aspects of the project. Each project partner has a defined, coordinated role in the project’s work plan.

4. Project design ensures all relevant information is collected and shared with ICDD according to the Administration on Community Living’s Reporting Requirements for CDC Funding (provided with the Call for Investment).

5. Successful projects learn from themselves. Please describe a program evaluation system you will utilize to track progress and effectiveness of project activity and an improvement cycle based on data and feedback. The Council and the Administration on Community Living wants to learn from your experience. See especially 11 and 12 in the Reporting Requirements for CDC Funding.

6. The primary outcome of project activities is increased vaccinations for people with disabilities and those who support them professionally and personally. Projects have a data gathering strategy to document the baseline and positive changes achieved. The project will track people targeted, participated, and the number of vaccinated under 8 in the Reporting Requirements for CDC Funding. Your project is likely to have outcomes to report under items 1-7 as well depending on your chosen wraparound activities.

Assumptions

The following assumptions may serve as a guide for applicants and are offered to aid in the development of a quality proposal. Unlike the Givens, the Assumptions are somewhat negotiable. All Assumptions must be addressed in your proposal or an explanation given as to why you hold different assumptions about how to reach the desired outcome.

• Projects will partner and capitalize on existing vaccination programs to the greatest extent possible.

Portfolio

The Council has a total of up to $121,740 for one investment. The project period will be August 1, 2021-August 31, 2022.

This CFI is open to community-based organizations with experience serving people with disabilities. Additionally, ICDD wants to award an entity with proven established relationships in its geographical boundary. Partners may be other community non-profits, health departments, medical providers, schools, or others (See General Requirements on page 4). Strength is gained through effective partnerships

The Council may choose not to fund or may negotiate and adjust the funding amount of this CFI at the time of an award.

Budget

Complete the Budget in DD Suite. The Council wants to see budgets which are cost effective and reasonable to meet the proposed project activities and reach the project’s stated performance target. The Council has a total of $121,740 available.

Indirect costs are limited to 10% of salary + benefits. Contact ICDD if your staff expenses are under contractual rather than salary.

Match:

There is no match requirement for this project.

Unallowed use of Council funds include:

• These funds cannot be used to provide vaccine incentives such as cash, gift cards, gift boxes, groceries or other giveaways. Reimbursement to cover reasonable costs of individuals to address impediments to getting a vaccine are allowed, such as the individual’s time and effort, lost wages, or transportation expense. Individuals agreeing to provide a professional service to the project such as sharing their story, sharing of their experience of accessing the vaccine, or navigating the system may be provided with an honorarium up to $100.

• The Council cannot supplant existing funds or funding sources. Other funds may be, and are encouraged to be, part of a sustainability plan and intentionally sought or used as funds leveraged with a project. Council funds cannot be used to pay for a program or a portion of a program that is currently being funded through other non-federal dollars. You cannot use Council funds to cover something already funded to allow redirecting the original money to another use.

• Purchase of vehicles

• Out of state travel expenses

Submission

Proposals must be submitted through DD Suite on or before 4:00 p.m. CDT on July 1, 2021. Instructions for using DD Suite can be found under Help in DD Suite and on the Council's website at www.illinois.gov/icdd/

PROPOSALS THAT ARE FAXED, MAILED, HANDWRITTEN, AND/OR LATE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Review and Selection

Applications are due by Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 4:00pm. CDT

The Council will conduct a due diligence selection process for proposals. Decisions are made by the review team at each step of the process. No applicant is guaranteed a telephone and/or personal interview. If you have questions about this process, you may contact the assigned staff member.

The selection process is as follows:

1. Proposal Review: A paper review for clarity, outcome, and cost is conducted by the review team.

2. Telephone Interview: If the review team wishes to obtain more detail about your proposed project and hear more about why you think the project you designed is a good way to reach our target, they will conduct a telephone interview. If the review team does not fully understand a proposal, they will conduct a telephone interview. If the review team understands what you propose to do sufficiently to reach consensus about your proposal, you may not be asked for a telephone interview.

3. After the paper review and, if necessary, a telephone interview, the review team will make their funding recommendation decision. Decisions are made using the outcome-based framework in looking at elements of the proposal. That is, will the investment of Council funds in a proposer’s project assist us in achieving the performance target and intent of this funding opportunity to benefit people with developmental disabilities and their families? The review team will also look for:

• A clear and measurable performance target(s);
• A work plan which gives an implementation strategy and timeframes to reach your performance target(s);
• Applicant and staff capability and expertise to achieve the performance target(s); and
• A budget which supports achieving the performance target(s) in a reasonable and cost-effective manner.

5. Verification/References: After the completion of interviews, the review team may contact previous customers or other persons familiar with the applicant’s work.

After a review of proposals received for this project, the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities may choose not to fund or may reduce the amount of this Call for Investment at the time of an award.


Timeline

Applicant’s Informational meeting June 9, 2021 at 10am CDT
Full application due July 1, 2021 at 4:00pm CDT
Telephone interview (as required) July 13, 2021 TBD
Funding decision July 22, 2021


NOTE: Applicants must be available for a telephone interview should it be required. This date cannot be changed, so please block the entire day on your calendar. The key people responsible for implementing the project should be available.

Additional Information for Grantees

Appeals Policy

Please contact the Council if you would like a copy of the appeals policy prior to submitting your proposal.

Reporting Requirements

You are required to send to the Council, quarterly milestone reports documenting progress. In addition, a final report is required. Reimbursement for investment expenditures will be processed monthly upon receipt of a payment request unless agreed to otherwise by the Project Manager and the implementer. A final operating expense report is required by the Council two weeks following receipt of the final payment. Implementers are expected to comply with the Council’s requirements regarding audits.

Equipment Purchased from Grant Funds

All minor or major equipment purchased by grant funds is considered the property of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities unless otherwise approved in writing.
Equipment is defined as an article of tangible personal property that has a useful life of more than two (2) years and an acquisition cost of $100 or more.

If an agency wishes to keep equipment purchased with investment dollars, the implementer must submit a list of equipment items, purchase price, intended use of equipment, and a rationale for retaining the equipment. If written approval is not obtained all equipment items must be relinquished to the Council office within sixty (60) days of project completion.

The Council may also request that equipment be relinquished if:
• a project is not implemented as described in the project plan and attempts to reach consensus on changes through course correction have been unsatisfactory; or
• a project is terminated as determined by the Council due to failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the investment and/or grant agreement.
Equipment items must be relinquished to the Council within thirty (30) days after receipt of the letter from the Council requesting the return of the equipment.

Through mutual agreement with the Council, an implementer may reimburse the Council for the fair market value of the equipment as documented by an invoice or receipt.

Products/ Ownership of Materials

Any product printed under this investment must include a statement that attributes the product to the Council. The Project Manager will assist you with this language.

One copy of the product must be submitted for review and approved by the Project Manager prior to public use or printing of any required copies as specified in the Call for Investment.

Unless stated differently, when copyrightable material is developed, you are free to copyright the material or let others do so. If any copyrightable material is developed during or under an investment, the Council shall have a royalty free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable right to copy, publish or use and can allow others to use the work for State or federal government purposes. Numbers of copies of the final product to be sent to the Council will be identified in the Call for Investment.

Any royalties, license fees, or other income you or a sub contractor earn during the investment from a copyrighted work developed during the investment must be sent to the Council as program income. Any costs, which are not charged to the costs of the investment in the sale of the copyrighted materials, can be subtracted from the program income received during the investment. Any income received after the close of the investment does not have to be sent to the Council.

Audit Information

The specific audit requirements for Implementers vary according to the type of entity receiving the grant funds and the amount of the annual expenditures. Audit requirements for all Implementers are described in the document entitled “Audit Guidelines for Programs Funded by the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities”. A copy of this document is made available to Implementers in the award packet. If you have specific questions regarding our audit requirements, the Council encourages you to request a copy of the audit guidelines.

Any governmental or non-profit agency expending $500,000 or more annually in Federal Funds is required to undergo a Single Audit. The agency or individual may include the Council’s portion of this audit in the proposed budget. A for profit agency or individual who expends $500,000 in funds solely from the Council is required to procure an audit of any Council funded projects. The cost of the audit (for the project only) can be included in your Council budget. The Council requires a copy of any audits.

If an organization or individual expends $100,000 or more of Council grant funds annually, the Council requests a copy of any routinely performed audits. Costs associated with audits performed may not be included in the proposed budget. If no audits are conducted, the Council will arrange for and pay for an annual limited scope audit of its funds.

If an organization or individual expends less than $100,000 of Council grant funds annually, the Council requests a copy of any routinely performed audits but does not require an audit of any kind to be performed. Costs associated with audits performed may not be included in the proposed budget. However, the Council may determine that a financial review is necessary at the expense of the Council.