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

Specifications

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to establish, strengthen, and sustain a statewide coalition of families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to advance systems change, improve access to services and supports, and elevate family voices in policy development and implementation across Georgia.

Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events
This Request for Proposals will be governed by the following schedule of Events:
• Applications Due By – March 31, 2026
• Contracts Due By - April 20, 2026
• Project Begins - May 1, 2026

Restrictions on Communication

All questions about this NoFA must be submitted in the following format:
Organization/Individual Name
1. Question
Citation of relevant section of the NoFA

2. Question
Citation of relevant section of the NoFA

Questions must be directed in writing to the Grants Manager, Felicia Dillon at: felicia.dillon@gcdd.ga.gov

Questions must include the company name and the referenced NoFA section.
From the issue date of this NoFA until a contractor is selected and the selection is announced, Applicants are not allowed to communicate for any reason with any State staff except through the Grants Manager, or during the Applicants' conference, or as provided by existing work agreement(s). The State reserves the right to reject the proposal of any Applicant violating this provision.
All questions concerning this NoFA must be submitted in writing by email to felicia.dillon@gcdd.ga.gov. Only written questions will be accepted. No response other than written will be binding upon the State.

The DD Council

The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) is one of 56 entities of its type in the United States and territories that report to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration for Community Living. It is authorized under Public Law 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 2000. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) makes funds available to fulfill its mission in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its Five-Year Strategic Plan https://gcdd.org/about/five-year-strategic-plan Through its funding, GCDD works to increase the capacities and resources of public and private nonprofit entities and others to develop a comprehensive community system that responds to the choices, capabilities and needs of persons with developmental disabilities and their families. The purpose of GCDD grants is to expand best practices and contribute to system-wide changes that support the rights of people with developmental disabilities and their full inclusion as community members. Recipients of GCDD grants are expected to be ongoing partners bringing about change. Our activities are governed by a 27-member board, appointed by the Governor and comprised of at least 60 percent individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. Other members include policymakers that represent various agencies and organizations having a vested interested in persons with developmental disabilities. GCDD serves as an advocate for all persons with developmental disabilities. We are charged with creating systems change for people with developmental disabilities and their families by increasing opportunities for independence, inclusion, integration, productivity and self-determination. Activities include public policy research and analysis, reform, project demonstrations, education and training. The GCDD is a state agency, attached to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) for administrative purposes.

Scope of Work- Request For Proposals

I/DD Family Advocacy Coalition

1. Project Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this project is to establish, strengthen, and sustain a statewide coalition of families of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to advance systems change, improve access to services and supports, and elevate family voices in policy development and implementation across Georgia.

The project will:
• Build a diverse, representative, and inclusive statewide family advocacy coalition;
• Strengthen the capacity of families to engage in effective advocacy at the local and state levels;
• Promote coordination and shared policy priorities among families, self-advocates, and disability organizations; and
• Support informed participation in public policy processes affecting Medicaid, waiver services, education, employment, housing, community living, and healthcare.

2. Required Activities
The selected applicant shall perform the following activities:

A. Coalition Development and Governance
1. Recruit and engage families including those from underserved geographic regions, racial and ethnic backgrounds, developmental disability types, and age groups (children, transition-age youth, and adults), conducting targeted outreach if necessary to ensure balanced participation.
2. Establish a formal coalition structure, including governance processes, leadership roles, and decision-making protocols.
3. Develop and maintain a coalition charter or bylaws outlining mission, values, membership criteria, and operating procedures.
4. Facilitate regular coalition meetings (at least quarterly), with options for virtual participation to ensure statewide access.

B. Family Engagement and Outreach
1. Develop accessible outreach materials explaining coalition goals, advocacy opportunities, and participation options.
2. Maintain a centralized system for coalition communications, such as an email listserv, website page, or online collaboration platform.
3. Support meaningful participation by families through accommodations, stipends, language access, and accessible meeting formats.

C. Advocacy Training and Capacity Building
1. Design and deliver advocacy training for family members, including but not limited to:
o Understanding Georgia’s education system for children, adolescents and young adults with I/DD.
o Understanding Georgia’s I/DD service system (DBHDD, Medicaid waivers, service coordination);
o Legislative and regulatory processes at the state and federal levels;
o Effective storytelling and communicating with policymakers;
o Media engagement and public education strategies;
o Disability rights and person-centered principles.
2. Provide at least two (2) statewide trainings or learning events per project year, with additional regional or virtual sessions.
3. Develop and distribute advocacy toolkits and plain-language educational materials.

D. Policy Advisement
1. Facilitate coalition input to collaborate with GCDD to identify and prioritize key policy and systems issues impacting individuals with I/DD and their families in Georgia.
2. Coordinate structured feedback mechanisms (surveys, listening sessions, focus groups, or forums).
3. Work with GCDD to communicate with legislators and policy makers on relevant state legislation, administrative rulemaking, and budget developments affecting the families of people with IDD.

E. Collaboration and Systems Coordination
1. Establish and maintain working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including but not limited to:
o Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD);
o Georgia Advocacy Office;
o Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD);
o Center for Leadership on Disability (CLD);
o Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
o Provider associations;
o Other disability and family-led organizations.
2. Participate in statewide disability planning, advisory, or stakeholder meetings as appropriate.
3. Promote alignment and shared messaging with other advocacy entities while maintaining the independent voice of families.

F. Public Awareness and Communications
1. Develop and implement a communications strategy to elevate family perspectives on I/DD issues in Georgia in alignment with GCDD.
2. Produce social media, periodic newsletters, policy briefs, or fact sheets in accessible formats.
3. Support families in participating in public hearings, legislative days, advocacy days, advisory councils, and community forums.
4. Document and share coalition accomplishments and outcomes.

3. Deliverables
At minimum, the contractor shall produce and share with GCDD:
• A coalition governance document (charter/bylaws);
• Documentation of coalition membership and meetings;
• Demographic and contact information for coalition members;
• Training curricula and materials;
• Outreach and communications materials;

4. Performance Expectations
The contractor is expected to:
• Demonstrate measurable growth in family participation;
• Ensure meaningful representation from multiple regions of Georgia;
• Show evidence of increased family knowledge and advocacy capacity;
• Document engagement with policymakers and systems partners;
• Operate in a culturally competent, trauma-informed, and disability-affirming manner.

Application Submission & Evaluation

The Applicant must submit a complete application in DD Suite which includes a Project Outline, a Project Work Plan and a Project Budget.

Applications must be submitted online via https://www.ddsuite.org, prior to the published deadline. No hard copies will be accepted. Applicants must have or create a DD Suite user account and an organization account in order to submit an application. Go to https://www.ddsuite.org and click on "HELP TAB" for detailed instructions on creating DD Suite user and organization accounts. (See complete application process and Guide to DD Suite attached)
Additional Submission Requirements:
1) Upload of copy of the Federal W-9 (attached to this NoFA)
2) Upload a plain language summary of the submitted application. The plain language summary should be one to two pages, and should include the following headings followed by a short plain language paragraph (5 – 10 sentences):
• Executive Summary
• Qualifications
• Detailed Narrative
• Outcomes Key
• Evaluation
• Diversity
• Budget
• Workplan
Applications that do not include a plain language summary may be rejected.
Each proposal should be prepared simply and economically, avoiding the use of elaborate promotional materials (unless materials have been requested) beyond those sufficient to provide a complete presentation. If supplemental materials are a necessary part of the proposal, the Applicant should reference these materials in the technical proposal, identifying the document(s) and citing the appropriate section and page(s) to be reviewed.
Any proposal received after the due date and time will not be evaluated.

Evaluation Process
The evaluation of proposals received on or before the due date and time will be conducted in the following phases. Any proposal received after the due date and time will not be evaluated.

Administrative Review
The Grants Manager will screen each proposal. The screening will consist of:
(1) determining if the Applicant is eligible to receive Council funds including determining if the Applicant meets eligibility requirements and is registered to do business in Georgia;
(2) the budget is within the funding limits and includes the required match;
(3) the application is complete and all sections in DD Suite have responses; and,
(4) the required forms are attached.

DD Suite will issue an automatic reply acknowledging receipt of your proposal immediately after successful submission.

NOFA Policies

Rejection of Proposals/Cancellation of NoFA

The State reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularity or informality in a proposal, and to accept or reject any item or combination of items; when to do so would be to the advantage of the State. It is also within the right of the State to reject proposals that do not contain all the elements and information requested in this document. The State reserves the right to cancel this NoFA at any time. The State will not be liable for any cost/losses incurred by the Applicants throughout this process.

NoFA Amendments

The State reserves the right to amend this NoFA prior to the proposal due date. All amendments and additional information will be posted to http://ddsuite.org Applicants are encouraged to check this website frequently.

Proposal Withdrawal

A submitted proposal may be withdrawn prior to the due date by a written request to the Grants Manager. A request to withdraw a proposal must be signed by an authorized individual.

Cost for Preparing Proposals

The cost for developing the proposal is the sole responsibility of the Applicant. The State will not provide reimbursement for such costs.

Conflict of Interest

If an Applicant has any existing client relationship that involves the State of Georgia, the Applicant must disclose each relationship.

Reciprocal Preference Law OCGA 50-5-60(b)

For the purposes of evaluation only, Applicants resident in the State of Georgia will be granted the same preference over Applicants resident in another State in the same manner, on the same basis, and to the same extent that preference is granted in awarding bids for the same goods or services by such other State Applicants resident therein over Applicants resident in the State of Georgia. NOTE: For the purposes of this law, the definition of a resident Applicant is one who maintains a place of business with at least one employee inside the State of Georgia. A post office box address will not satisfy this requirement.

ADA Guidelines

The State of Georgia adheres to the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants should contact the Grants Manager at least 48 hours in advance if they require special arrangements when attending the Applicant's Conference. The Georgia Relay Center at 1-800-255-0056 (TDD Only) or 1-800-255-0135 (Voice) will relay messages, in strict confidence, for the speech and hearing impaired.