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

Specifications

Posted	Applications Due	Start Date	End Date	Amount	Match	Poverty Match	Council Staff
Mar 06, 2025	Apr 18, 2025	Jul 01, 2025	Jun 30, 2027	$100,000.00	$33,333.00	$0.00	Jason Withers

Overview and Purpose

A virtual Technical Assistance Zoom call has been scheduled for March 17, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET, for applicants interested in learning more about the process for submitting a proposal application. Advance registration is required. The Zoom registration link is included below:

https://dsa-virginia.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_kxG6LyLgQ1uqmwPwHdRsHg

**Please be sure to read the entire RFP and Grants Manual before submitting a Proposal application** 

**In order to submit a Proposal Application, applicants must navigate to the Supporting Documents section of this announcement and download the Word-formatted Proposal Coversheet, Abstract, Budget Justification Narrative Form (Year 1 & 2), Budget Form (Year 1 & 2), Quarterly Activity Timeline & Expenditure Projection, and Proposal Narrative Forms. In addition, the proposal should include all applicable PDF-formatted Appendices, as referenced on page 21 of the Grants Manual. The completed proposal package, including signed Proposal Coversheet and Budget form and Appendices should then be uploaded as ONE file (128MB file size limit) under the “Support Docs” tab within your application. No other attachments, outside of the information requested in this RFP, should be attached to your proposal application.** 

Through this RFP, the Board seeks to support a local, regional or statewide culturally and linguistically competent self-advocacy organization or program, the purpose of which is to advocate for changes to policies, programs and systems for individuals with developmental disabilities that encourage inclusive communities. Projects funded through this special grant program must be designed to strengthen an existing self-advocacy organization or program led by individuals with DD, by improving an organization’s skill set, organizational structure and/or work to effect policy change. The Board encourages innovative proposals, based on promising or best practices.

Projects should holistically incorporate cultural and linguistic competence in project design and activities. The Board considers cultural competence to include the following: the organization has defined values, principles and policies that demonstrate that (1) diversity and differences are valued; (2) the organization is able to work effectively across cultures and adapt to the cultural context of the communities being served; (3) the organization recognizes the importance of cultural sensitivity towards the target audience; and (4) it is able to incorporate these values, principles and policies in each aspect of policy-making, administration, practice, service delivery and systematically involve consumers, families and community members. 

The National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) at Georgetown University defines culture as “…a system of collectively held values, beliefs, and practices of a group which guides thinking and actions in patterned ways.” They define linguistic competence as “…the capacity of an organization and its personnel to communicate effectively, and convey information in a manner that is easily understood by diverse groups including persons of limited English proficiency, those who have low literacy skills or are not literate, individuals experiencing disabilities, and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Linguistic competence required organizational and provider capacity to respond effectively to the health and mental health literacy needs of populations served. The organization must have policies, structures, practices, procedures, and dedicated resources to support this capacity.”1

1The Cultural and Linguistic Competence Assessment for Disability Organizations (CLCADO), National Center for Cultural Competence, Georgetown University https://nccc.georgetown.edu/assessments/clcado.php  

Available Grant Funds

The Board has reserved total funding of up to $100,000 for successful proposals from one or more self-advocacy organizations or a self-advocacy program, within an organization, led by individuals with DD.  Funding for a self-advocacy organization with statewide reach will receive preference. The Board may award all or a portion of available funds. We may choose not to award grant funds if budget limitations are encountered or if we determine that none of the grant proposals will achieve our desired outcomes. The Grant period may range from 18 to 24 months. Grantees will be required to submit an annual renewal application for multi-year projects in order to demonstrate project outcomes.

Under this solicitation, grantees are required to contribute a minimum match (cash or in kind) of 25 percent of total project costs (grant funds + match). Federal funds cannot be used as match. If the project primarily serves a Designated Poverty Area, the minimum match requirement is 10 percent of total project costs. Designated Poverty Areas are listed in the Grants Manual, Appendix B.

Entities with a federally negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) agreement may elect to charge indirect costs to the project and a copy of the ICR agreement must be included with the application. Board staff will review the ICR agreement to determine the most appropriate cost rate. Entities that do not have a negotiated cost rate agreement may elect to charge a de minimis rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (MTDC definition can be found in the Grants Manual). Applicants are strongly encouraged to use indirect costs towards the minimum match requirement.

What We Will Not Fund

Through this RFP, we will not support the following:

• Existing projects or services that are a part of an organization’s current program or budget unless the grant program will expand upon the project or service;
• Projects that would supplant or replace existing federal, state, or local dollars to conduct the project;
• Projects which have a federal, state or local mandate to be delivered by the applicant organization;
• Projects which include capital expenditures for the acquisition of land or buildings, new construction or major repair.
• Projects that take place in restrictive, isolated, or segregated settings that do not promote community integration for children or adults with disabilities.
• Projects that do not effectively demonstrate cultural and linguistic competence through established organizational policies, structures, procedures and practices.

Board Objectives and Target Population

Projects should be designed to strengthen the efforts of individuals with developmental disabilities to advocate for systems change that will transform fragmented approaches into a coordinated and effective system which ensures that individuals with DD and their families participate in the design of, and have access to, needed community services, individualized supports, and other assistance that promote self-determination, individual autonomy, productivity, and integration and inclusion in all facets of community life.

Projects should also support the self-advocacy organization’s work towards being sustainable without funding from the Board. Applicants are strongly encouraged to incorporate activities into their work plan that will support sustainability. Activities could include conducting a needs assessment, developing a sustainability plan, conducting outreach to potential funders, and better communicating the organization’s impact.

The target population is self-advocates with developmental disabilities. The organization(s) or project(s) to be funded must be led by individuals with developmental disabilities. While a program or project may be part of an umbrella organization, the program’s (if not an actual organization’s) direction and decision-making must rest with individuals with developmental disabilities who are either serving as staff or as a governing Board or leadership team.

Developmental disability, as defined in federal law, is a severe, chronic, often lifelong disability that causes substantial limitations in several major life activities such as: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, the capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. It is attributable to a mental, emotional, sensory, and/or physical impairment that is apparent before the age of twenty-two. People with developmental disabilities often need a combination of special services, support, and other assistance that is likely to continue indefinitely.

For projects in which there will be direct benefit to individuals, at least 60% of the target population that will benefit from the grant, must be persons with Developmental Disabilities (DD). The definition of developmental disabilities and all grant submission requirements can be found in the Grants Manual: https://vaboard.org/grants.htm#administration.

All project activities will be conducted in consultation with staff to the Board, may be subject to periodic approvals, and are based on the needs of the organization.

Evaluation Requirements

Applicants must identify outputs and outcomes that the applicant will report on for each proposed work plan activity, to the extent possible. For information on the difference between outputs and outcomes, see the Grants Manual and tip sheets on the Board’s grants webpage. Applicants must identify quantifiable targets for each output and outcome to the extent possible (e.g., 20 people with disabilities trained, at least 15 of whom have a developmental disability; 80% of project participants report increased knowledge).

Applicants must also demonstrate to the Board that they have the organizational capacity to collect and report the required data.If the applicant’s evaluation capacity is limited, the applicant should consider allocating up to 10-15% of their proposed budget to external evaluation support. Board staff can provide general guidance about what needs to be collected, and potential collection methods, but do not have the resources to provide substantial support with designing and administering evaluation tools.

Applicants must also collect demographic data for project participants with developmental disabilities and their family members, to the extent possible. The required demographic data currently includes race/ethnicity, geographical location, and gender (see RFP, pages 5-6), but is subject to change based on federal guidance. Demographic information for other project participants is also welcome, but not required.

For successful applicants, Board staff will use the applicant’s proposal and federal guidance to identify federal performance measures and other required impact data that the applicant must report on. The federal performance measures highlight select outputs and outcomes that are of interest to the Board’s federal funders. Board staff reserve the right to require successful applicants to collect data that is not included in the grantee’s original proposal but that Board staff deem necessary to demonstrate project impact, based on federal guidance.

Application Submission Process

The review of proposals will be completed as listed in the Activities and Key Dates table from the RFP. Eligible applicants may submit a Proposal application which will be reviewed and scored by the Grant Review Team (GRT). Final awards will be made after the review of all proposal applications. Key dates are listed below.

Note: The Board only accepts grant applications submitted electronically through the performance management and government resource planning site, DD Suite, which can be accessed via the following link: https://www.ddsuite.org/. Unless specified in the RFP, emailed, faxed or hard copy proposals are not accepted. 

Proposal Applications must be received electronically in the DD Suite system by 4 p.m. ET on or before the due date listed in the Key Dates attachment document. Late submissions will not be accepted for any reason. 

Proposal Applications should include clear and concise information on the following: 

1. Coversheet 

2. Abstract 

3. Budget 

• Budget Justification Narrative (Year 1 & 2) 
• Budget Form (Year 1 & 2) 
• Quarterly Activity Timeline & Expenditure Projections 

4. Narrative (max 20 double-spaced pages) 

• Applicant Profile 
• Cultural and Linguistic Competence
• Target Population 
• Involvement of Individuals with DD & Families in Project Development, Implementation and Evaluation 
• Collaboration 
• Systems Change and Capacity Building
• Sustainability 
• Work Plan: Project Goal, Objectives, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes, and Stories 
• Strength of Evidence 
• Evaluation Plan 

*Strength of Evidence: Describe in detail the evidence-based model/approach you have chosen and why it was selected for your project, i.e., what is the evidence that supports your approach.

Required Appendices for Proposal Applications: 

5. Letters of Commitment or MOUs (required if partnering to achieve project goals) 

6. Letters of Support 

7. One page resume and position description for each key project personnel Form 990 (for non-profits) 

8. IRS Determination letter on non-profit tax exempt status (for non-profits) 

9. Articles of Incorporation (for non & for profits) 

10. Annual submission to SEC for SCC (for profits) 

11. Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

Review and Scoring of Applications

Proposal Applications: 

Each proposal will be date and time stamped upon electronic receipt in the DD Suite system. Late proposals will not be reviewed. 

After a review for technical completeness, the GRT will review and score all proposals. Cut off scores are at the discretion of the GRT. Within the dollar amount available, the highest scoring proposals will be recommended to the Board for funding. 

A project Work Plan (see page 19 in the Grants Manual) must be developed and demonstrate how the proposed objectives and activities align with the selected performance measures. 

Full Proposal Scoring: 

1. Applicant Profile - 5 pts. 

2. Alignment with the Board's Goals and Objectives** - 10pts. 

3. Cultural and Linguistic Competence - 5 pts.

4. Target Population - 5 pts. 

5. Involvement of Individuals with DD & Families in Project Development, Implementation and Evaluation - 6 pts. 

6. Collaboration - 6 pts. 

7. Systems Change & Capacity Building - 5 pts. 

8. Sustainability - 8 pts. 

9. Work Plan - Project Goal, Objectives, Activities, Outputs, Outcomes, and Stories - 20 pts. 

10. Strength of Evidence - 7 pts. 

11. Evaluation Plan - 8 pts. 

12. Budget - 10 pts. 

13. Bonus Points (projects with statewide reach) - 5 pts. 

Total Possible Points - 100

**Alignment with the Board’s State Plan Goals and Objectives – In order to achieve the intended outcome(s), it is crucial for an intended grant project to align with the Goals and Objectives from the Board’s 5-Year State Plan. Proposals which do not clearly align may not be recommended for funding by the Board’s Grant Review Team (GRT).

Reporting Requirements

All grantees will be required to submit quarterly and final programmatic and financial progress reports. Grantees also will be expected to track and share aggregated data about their projects and participants, which include federally required demographic data. Reporting deadlines and requirements will be included in the award letter and contract. In some circumstances, the Board may require monthly programmatic and/or financial reporting. In addition, some grantees may be required to provide post grant reporting and more frequent reports may be required in certain circumstances.

The Board requires that the selected grantee provide (in the quarterly program reports, final report, or at other times as requested) stories about people with developmental and other disabilities and their families whose lives have improved as a result of grant activities. Examples of the types of stories (who, what, when, where and why) the Board is looking for may include: how someone developed the confidence to speak up for themselves and others, take on leadership roles, influence policy decisions that impact their lives and others, navigate systems and advocate for their rights and the rights of others. The privacy of program participants must be protected at all times. Stories can also describe how an organization’s practices were improved or how public policy was improved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for funding from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities’ Competitive Grant Program?

Eligible organizations include non-profit organizations, for profit organizations and institutions of higher education, including minority-serving institutions (MSI). The Board encourages braided funding and partnerships. Please be sure to clearly describe the planned role and responsibilities of each partner at all stages of the project. Only one organization can receive the grant and will be contractually responsible for grant administration, reporting and delivery of the project. For this grant opportunity, the organization or program must be led by individuals with developmental disabilities.

Where does VBPD receive its funding?

Board grants are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL), Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (OIDD).

Can an organization submit more than one application in response to this RFP?

No.

Are Board grantees required to have an active UEI number in order to be a recipient of federal funds?

Yes. An active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number is required in order to receive federal funds. On April 4, 2022, the federal government stopped using Dun & Bradstreet Numbering System (DUNS) numbers. If the grantee does not have the new, non-proprietary identifier called the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), or the Entity ID, please request one from the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

Are there community types you're interested in?

We are particularly interested in projects that benefit individuals with developmental disabilities who are part of underserved, low-income and/or culturally diverse communities.

If I currently have an active grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, can I submit an application?

Yes.

How are grantees reimbursed for project expenses?

All grant payments are processed on a cost reimbursable basis.