CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION

Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) IL-11-01

Title VII B – CFDA # 84.169A

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING GRANT

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I. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................3

II. AUTHORITY....................................................................................................3

III. BACKGROUND..............................................................................................3

IV. PURPOSE OF THIS RFA...............................................................................5

V. ELIGIBILITY....................................................................................................7

VI. GRANT AWARD AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE...............................8

VII. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES – PROGRAM PLAN NARRATIVE.............8

VIII. FUNDING PARAMETERS AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENTS..10

IX. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................12

X. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION REQUIRED ELEMENTS............................13

XI. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION..................................................................15

XII. ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION............................................16

XIII. REVIEW PROCESS AND REVIEW CRITERIA.........................................17

XIV. APPEAL RIGHTS..........................................................................................20

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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATIONIndependent Living and Assistive Technology Section (ILATS)

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) IL-11-01Federal Title VII B

Community Organizing Grant

I. INTRODUCTION

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the State Independent Living Council (SILC) are pleased to announce the availability of Federal funds under Title VII B of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, for award to eligible organizations in California, to develop and conduct new community organizing projects that involve and support persons with disabilities. Up to five (5) community organizing grants of $75,000 each will be awarded. Funding for each grant award is for one year, renewable for up to two additional years upon satisfactory performance as determined by the DOR and the availability of federal funds for this purpose.

II. AUTHORITY

The goals and objectives set forth in the 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) for the development of independent living services in California reflect commitment of the SILC and the DOR to fund community organizing grants for education/advocacy projects aimed at increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in public policy education activities. Section 713 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, authorizes use of these funds for this purpose.

The SPIL includes "Advancing Olmstead" by educating key stakeholders and policymakers as one of its primary goals. The SPIL is available on the Internet at http://www.calsilc.org/spil.html.

III. BACKGROUND

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING?

This community organizing award is designed to develop leaders and organize persons with disabilities within the community to work as a cohesive group with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose. Community organizing is a process through which people affected by an issue join to act in their shared self-interest. It is a long-term approach where those affected are supported to identify problems and take action to achieve solutions. The organizer challenges people affected by an issue to achieve social change through collective action. The tactics and strategies employed by the organizer are similar

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to leadership processes that include timing, planning, getting the attention of the populace, framing the issue in terms of the desired solution, and shaping the terms of the decision-making process.

Community organizing efforts do not begin with preconceived goals for the group, but encourage and support the group in setting its own goals, which may take the group in directions not anticipated by the organizers.

In order to build a powerful, effective, and ongoing force for future change, the organization receiving funds must include planning for future efforts and activities after this grant has ended. Future planning should include the continued recruitment of new members, motivation of new and existing members, exploration and expansion of the organization’s goals and, as appropriate, development of new funding sources.

Carefully consider whether the project proposed in your application is community organizing.

ADVANCING OLMSTEAD

Currently states operating Medicaid programs with federal funding are required to include institutional based long-term care services to individuals meeting that level of care. States may provide long-term care services in community based settings through optional State Plan benefits and approved Medicaid waivers. A report prepared for the California Health and Human Services Agency states that, "Despite consumer preferences to receive services in their homes, institutional care is easier to access because of restrictions in the Social Security Act, Medicaid regulations and the options states choose. Institutional bias can be found in financial eligibility categories, service coverage and the delivery systems through which services are accessed."1 Whether or not persons with disabilities are institutionalized is often influenced by federal, state, and local policies and practices, as well as whether a comprehensive range of local services is available to support living independently in their communities.

The 1999 Supreme Court Olmstead decision affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their community and recognized the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, that requires public agencies to provide services "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities." The US Department of Justice has made enforcement of the Olmstead decision a priority "recognizing that the unjustified isolation of individuals in institutional settings is a form of discrimination under the ADA."2

1 Mollica, R. & Hendrickson, L., Home and Community-Based Long-Term Care: Recommendations to Improve Access to Californians, Final Report, http://www.communitychoices.info/reports.html (November 2009)2 Enforcing the ADA, A Status Report from the Department of Justice, October - December 2009, http://www.ada.gov/octdec09.htm

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The federal government acknowledges that coordination and incentives need to occur to assist individuals to transition from institutions to community living and support systems. Some progress has been made to support community living options. For example, the California Community Transitions project is a federally funded Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration designed to transition individuals residing in institutional settings to community living.3 As well, the federally-mandated Minimum Data Set 3.0 Section Q for Medicare and Medicaid certified freestanding and hospital-based nursing homes has recently been updated to require that nursing facilities assess residents for their interest in living in the community. These nursing facilities are now required to refer its residents who are interested in living in the community to designated organizations, who can assist the individual with exploring the possibility of transitioning into the community. These initiatives are needed to ensure coordination and collaboration between nursing facilities and community based organizations so that individuals have choices of where and how they access long-term care services.

Support for community living involves consideration of a range of issues that must include developing strategies to maintain or increase access to community based services. The relationship between federal, state, and local long term care service systems, industries and associations throughout the long-term care continuum, organized labor, and the system of Medicare/MediCal financing will significantly affect these strategies. Removing barriers to the availability of personal assistance and accessible and affordable housing and transportation is another critical step necessary to develop an effective continuum of community based services. A shift in emphasis from institutional to community based independent living depends on addressing factors such as these, and educating those who can support these efforts.

IV. PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

DOR and SILC have designated this RFA to fund up to five community organizing projects designed to:

Recruit, organize, and support an empowered constituency of people with disabilities to identify issues and seek solutions to support access to services and options for community based living and reduce unnecessary institutionalization;

Develop strategies for local, regional, state, or federal systemic changes that promote community based living options and maintain or expand access to community based services that support the mandate of the U. S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision.

3 California Community Transitions Project, Department of Healthcare Services, http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ltc/Pages/CCT.aspx

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Community living options may include but are not limited to availability and coordination of affordable and accessible transportation, housing, and personal assistance necessary for persons with disabilities to live independently in their communities. Applicants must consider as part of their proposal barriers to maintaining or increasing the availability of community based options and coordination of existing services that would lead to expanded access. Issues related to influencing public policy, program design, and program practice that directly affect people with disabilities should be considered.

Community organizing projects may focus on these issues or others not listed, and may target a single issue or more than one.

The geographic distribution of awards for this RFA will be: At least two grants will be awarded to organizations based in Northern

California. At least two grants will be awarded to organizations based in Southern

California.

Northern California is defined as including San Mateo, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Alpine Counties and all counties located further north. Southern California is defined as Santa Cruz, San Benito, Merced, Madera and Mono Counties and all counties located further south. The geographic scope of the project proposed may be local, regional or statewide.

All products, materials, or other information created through this funding will be the property of the State of California and must be packaged in such a way that others can use them past the end of the grant period.

A. This RFA Community Organizing Model must:

Recruit and support a constituency of people with disabilities with shared self interests to build power;

Organize people with disabilities within the community to identify and develop leaders and to work together as a cohesive group, with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose;

Identify common issues, problems, and the solutions they want; Recruit new members and individual and organizational allies; Identify the people and systems that can make solutions possible; Engage its targets through education, negotiation, and collective action; Plan and strategize continuing action in response to barriers, incremental

changes, and successes; And build a democratic, constituency controlled organization that can

develop the capacity to grow and sustain itself to address continuing issues.

B. This RFA Community Organizing Model is intended to promote the achievement of measurable goals to maintain or expand community living

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options or access to community based services by supporting systemic changes brought about by an organized consumer based constituency.

V. ELIGIBILITY

Any application that does not meet all of these eligibility criteria will be deemed non-responsive and not considered for competitive review.

A. Abstract. The proposal abstract will be used to determine eligibility as part of the administrative screening for the competitive review process Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and must address these elements in the proposal abstract as required under Section X.

1. Only applicants that are private, not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for this grant award. Indicate whether the applicant meets this requirement. (See Section X. Submission of Application Required Elements - I. Tax-Exempt Documents.)

2. Briefly describe the applicant’s commitment to the Independent Living (IL) movement and its philosophy, involvement in supporting systemic changes that maintain or increase access to community based long term care services, and history of engaging people with disabilities in planning and conducting these efforts. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 1. Organization Description and 2. Organization Experience.)

3. Describe the applicant’s commitment to have a majority of personnel funded under this grant be persons with disabilities. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 1. Organization Description.)

Activities proposed for funding under this RFA must support and benefit a broad range of persons with various disabilities without focus on specific issues that primarily apply to persons from a single disability group.

4. Describe how the proposed activities meet the identified community organizing model definition elements. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 4. Community Organizing Model Description)

5. Provide a brief summary of the Proposed Work Plan and Projected Outcomes and Objectives. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 5. Proposed Work Plan and 6. Projected Outcomes and Objectives)

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B. Required Elements. Applicants must meet all of the submission criteria identified in Section X. Attachment A has been provided to facilitate applicants’ submission of complete proposals.

VI. GRANT AWARD AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Grant(s) will be awarded according to the following schedule:

RFA Posted March 25, 2011

Deadline for Hard-Copy Applications April 26, 2011 (4:00 p.m.)Deadline for Electronic Elements April 27, 2011 (4:00

p.m.)Intent to Award Notice May 19,

2011Intent to Award Appeals May 23-27, 2011Formal Grant Packages Due June 7, 2011Grant Effective Dates June 30,

2011 through (with up to two year renewal) June 29, 2012

Program commencement dates may be negotiated with the DOR but shall be no later than June 30, 2011.

VII. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES – PROGRAM PLAN NARRATIVE

Outcome Oriented: A critical element of the program plan is its projection of measurable outcomes. Without pre-supposing the results of stakeholders’ prioritization of efforts for community organizing, applicants can identify outcomes such as: participation of people with disabilities who are organized and educating others; increased community awareness of issues relating to community living options, availability of community based services, existing long term care service delivery systems and financing, and the availability of affordable and accessible housing, transportation, and personal assistant services; improved access to services for people requiring long-term services and supports. The applicant must identify activities and specific, measurable outcomes that will result from supported activities.

The application narrative must set forth the goals and a work plan for accomplishing outcomes. The work plan must be presented in a manner that identifies anticipated tasks and outcomes utilizing the funds available for this grant. Include plans for years two and three of the grant, should funding be available. The narrative should be as thorough as possible, within the limitation of fourteen (14) pages, 8 1/2" x 11", 14 pt. Arial font, single-spaced. The narrative must contain the elements listed below in the application narrative outline:

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1. Organization Description: Present a description of the applicant organization, its commitment to the independent living movement and practice of independent living philosophy, and its history of engaging people with disabilities in planning and conducting efforts to influence public policy, program design, and/or program practice that directly affect them. Demonstrate the applicant’s required commitment to staff the proposed project with persons with disabilities.

2. Organization Experience: Describe the applicant organization’s experience with community organizing, systems change, and activities related to maintaining or increasing access to community based services for people with disabilities. Present relevant activities and outcomes to demonstrate that experience.

3. Assessment of Needs: Present an assessment of the current system of long term care in California. Identify barriers to implementation and expansion of community living options and access to community based services, particularly those most related to the proposed community organizing project. 4. Community Organizing Model Description: Describe in detail the proposed model for community organizing that specifically addresses how the applicant will:

Recruit and support a constituency of people with disabilities with shared self interests to build power;

Organize people with disabilities within the community to identify and develop leaders and to work together as a cohesive group, with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose;

Identify common issues, problems, and the solutions they want; Recruit new members and individual and organizational allies; Identify the people and systems that can make solutions possible; Engage its targets through education, negotiation, and collective action; Plan and strategize continuing action in response to barriers, incremental

changes, and successes; And build a democratic, constituency controlled organization that can

develop the capacity to grow and sustain itself to address continuing issues.

5. Proposed Work Plan: Present a detailed work plan of the proposed community organizing activities, strategies, responsible parties, and time frames that will result in an organized constituency that is prepared and able to function in accordance with the required community organizing model elements. Project the work plan to continue the organizing campaign in the second and third years of the project, and for the organized constituency to sustain itself after the grant has ended. 6. Projected Outcomes and Objectives: Present a summary of clear, specific, measureable outcomes for the community organizing project that will recruit and support an organized constituency of persons with disabilities whose efforts will prompt maintenance or expansion of community living options and access to community based services that support Olmstead implementation in California in a local, regional, or statewide manner. Identify specific measures of success for each component of the program.

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Measures of success can include, but are not limited to:

The number of persons with disabilities, disability oriented organizations and others who have been organized to participate.

The development of identified new leaders among persons with disabilities. Evidence of the sustainability of the community organizing group. Evidence of positive changes achieved in the ability of individuals to access

services and supports. Prevention of outcomes that limit access to community-based services and

supports.

Applicants must consider that community organizing entails constituency, not organizer, identified issues and solutions; specific systemic change outcomes projected in this application will be subject to constituent consideration.

7. Evaluation: Clearly define the methods the applicant will use to monitor, evaluate, and respond to emerging program needs, and to measure the outcomes of the work plan against the goals and objectives outlined in the applicant’s narrative. 8. Budget: Describe the fiscal, staffing and other resources to be devoted to this application. Describe the estimated cost of the work plan and the way in which resources will be used to achieve the outcomes and goals of the work plan.

Note: Corresponding Review Process and Review Criteria in Section XIII.

VIII. FUNDING PARAMETERS AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Up to five community organizing grants of $75,000 each will be awarded. Grant funding is for one year, with the option to renew for up to two additional years upon satisfactory performance as determined by DOR and the availability of federal funds for this purpose. Performance will evaluated based on the sub-grantee’s implementation of this RFA’s required community organizing model, execution of its work plan, achievement of its objectives and goals, appropriate program monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, sound fiscal management, and timely and accurate fiscal reporting.

Note: There is no assurance that state or federal funding will be available upon completion of these grants. Federal and state funds for independent living programs have fluctuated in the past, and it is not known when, or if, additional funding may become available.

The success of an application should not be predicated on receiving program funding from DOR beyond the term of this grant, but rather on developing varied funding sources, a successful community

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organization to address future funding issues, or accomplishing the project goals without the need for further funding.

Note: These Federal funds may not be used to pay for costs associated with lobbying activities. (See Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122; Selected Items of Cost; 25 Lobbying for prohibited activities and exceptions.)

Applicants are required to include documentation of positive cash flow. Documentation may include a bank statement showing sufficient reserves to cover the organization’s expenses, documents showing a bank’s line of credit, promissory note(s) of upcoming funding, and/or other items that attest to the fiscal integrity of the organization. The documentation must show that the organization has sufficient resources to continue services, uninterrupted, in the event of a funding delay of up to 45 days.

ADVANCE PAYMENT - INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS ONLY

Pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code §19805, advances, payments, and reconciliations will follow the established ILATS Advance Payment Plan for Independent Living Centers.

REIMBURSEMENT – NON-INDEPENDENT LIVING CENTERS ONLY

All expenditures shall be reimbursed monthly, in arrears. Budget and Reimbursement Requests shall be submitted and prepared in accordance with instructions to be provided by the ILATS. Reimbursement shall be made to subgrantees for authorized expenditures as determined by DOR. Final requests for reimbursement shall be submitted to DOR no later than ninety (90) days after the close of the funding period of the grant.

New subgrantees will receive training on allowable expenditures, preparing reimbursement requests, and general grant requirements.

Advance Funding – Non-Independent Living Centers Only

The DOR, pursuant to Government Code §11019, may advance an amount (up to twenty-five percent of the grant) to the subgrantee if such an advance is essential for the effective implementation of the provisions of the grant. If such an advance is requested by the subgrantee, the DOR will determine, based on information the subgrantee will be asked to submit, that the subgrantee can reasonably be expected to administer such an advance in accordance with the terms of the grant. The subgrantee will repay the advanced funds according to DOR policy. The subgrantee shall pay the DOR any interest income earned by the advance funds.

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IX. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

All applications submitted for funding consideration are subject to the conditions specified in this RFA.

An applicant whose application is selected for funding based on the items described in Section VII (Description of Services – Program Plan Narrative) and using the criteria in Section XIII (Review Process and Review Criteria) will be notified of the award. A formal grant application package containing additional forms and information will then be required. Instructions for the formal application package will be provided to successful applicants after awards have been made. Training on compiling the application package and fundamental grant requirements will be provided to organizations whose proposals are selected for funding that have not had a recent grant from the Independent Living Section.

The DOR reserves the right to negotiate final budget, program, and/or service area changes prior to making final awards.

The DOR reserves the right to require program narrative amendment(s) for year two and/or year three of the grant.

The Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires that DOR provide periodic evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs it oversees. In order to gather the information necessary to meet this mandate, organizations receiving grant awards are required to submit quarterly progress reports and annual and end of sub-grant self-evaluation and analysis reports, as indicated.

Report to the DOR: The successful subgrantee will be assigned to a DOR Resources Specialist who will provide consultation and oversight during the development of the subgrantee’s program and budget and will work closely with the successful subgrantee during the life of the grant to provide technical assistance and monitor progress.

Quarterly Reports: Subgrantees must submit quarterly progress reports that include activities and outcomes to DOR within 30 days of the end of each quarter.

Annual and End of Grant Report: Subgrantees must submit an aggregate annual and end of grant summary and self-analysis report within 30 days of the end of the grant period. The report must be sent by regular mail and electronically to the assigned DOR Resources Specialist in the Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section.

Report to the SILC:During the grant period, a subgrantee representative will be required to present, in-person, a report of progress to the SILC or one of its committees once each

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year. At the end of the grant a copy of the self-evaluation report must be sent to the SILC.

Each successful subgrantee is also subject to the conditions for subgrants administered by the Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section, Title VII of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, the Standard Grant Agreement, Standard Grant Provisions, state grant award requirements, and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

Each subgrantee must have written administrative and personnel policies and procedures for the operation of the grant that are consistent with applicable DOR grant management policies and must be available for review and approval by DOR.

X. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION REQUIRED ELEMENTS

Hard copy applications that do not contain all of the items listed below (subsections A - J) and/or do not comply with the instructions or criteria given for grant applications will not be considered for funding. See corresponding Review Process and Review Criteria in Section XIII.

Note: Applications must be in narrative, Microsoft Word format only. Do not submit charts, brochures, graphs, tables, maps or any other format as a part of the application. This is necessary in order to submit accessible applications electronically to reviewers.

Each application in response to this RFA MUST contain the following items in exactly the format identified here (please assemble in the order listed below):

A. Program Proposal Checklist: Attachment A - Program Proposal Checklist is to be used by the applicant and administrative screening reviewers to facilitate a determination if all of the requirements under this section have been met.

B. Board President Signed Application Letter: A letter of application signed by the board president of the applicant organization that includes:

The amount of funds requested, Support of the project activities as identified in Section VII

(Description of Services).

C. Proposal Abstract: A brief (no more than one typed page) summary of the application covering all the elements in eligibility criteria covered in Section V. - Eligibility, Part A. The Abstract will be used as part of the administrative screening of responsive proposals.

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D. Program Narrative: A narrative application of not more than fourteen (14) pages (single-sided) 8 1/2" x 11", single-spaced, 14 pt. font, containing all of the elements described in described in Section VII (Description of Services – Program Plan Narrative, #1-8).

E. Budget Narrative: A budget narrative (not a part of the narrative application in D above) describing, in narrative form, proposed expenditures by line item using the budget categories of personnel, operating, and equipment, as appropriate.

Budget Considerations:

1. Maximum grant amount is $75,000 for a one year period.

2. Allowable costs are for personnel, operating, and equipment expenses as identified in the federal Office of Management and Budget Circular A-122 and applicable federal regulations for the Title VII B program.

3. The budget may provide for a start-up period of not more than sixty (60) days prior to the initiation of services (but not prior to the effective date of the grant).

4. Funding is for one year, renewable for up to two additional years upon satisfactory performance as determined by DOR, and the availability of federal funds for this purpose.

5. No matching funds are required. Subgrantees will be reimbursed 100% of allowable costs.

6. No remodeling or construction expenses will be reimbursed.

F. Agency Mission Statement: A copy of the applicant agency’s mission statement with supporting material that demonstrates how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements of this RFA. Items submitted to meet this requirement must be in Microsoft Word narrative format only.

G. Service Area Narrative Description: A detailed description, in narrative form (a map, chart, or table is not acceptable), of the area to be served. Service area boundaries should be developed using logical parameters such as zip code boundaries, county, city, or other geographical borders.

H. Letters of Support: Three (3) letters from other organizations or agencies that have been directly involved with the applicant’s work

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related to community organizing and support for community based living options and Olmstead implementation, and must state evidence of the applicant’s related accomplishments, experience, expertise, and capacity to implement this project. General letters of support for the proposing organization or staff are not acceptable for this purpose. Letters of support must meet the same Microsoft Word, narrative format requirements as the rest of the application.

I. Cash Flow Documentation: Documentation of positive cash flow (Section VIII – Funding Parameters and Reimbursement Requirements).

J. Tax-Exempt Documents: Copies of letters, from both the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board, confirming the agency's non-profit, tax-exempt status. Applicants unable to locate such letters are encouraged to contact the Internal Revenue Service and/or the California Franchise Tax Board to obtain verification of their status. No other documentation, such as records of incorporation or other paperwork, is acceptable to meet this required element.

Fair competition requires the DOR to adhere precisely to the requirements set forth in this RFA. Applicants are therefore encouraged to review this RFA and their application(s) carefully prior to submitting the application(s) to DOR to assure that they meet all requirements of this RFA. Applications may not, for any reason, be added to or changed after receipt in the Contracts and Procurement Section of the DOR.

XI. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

HARD COPY APPLICATION

Mail or hand carry completed HARD COPY application to:Sandy Cook, Contracts ManagerDepartment of RehabilitationContracts and Procurement, 6th Floor 721 Capitol MallSacramento, CA 95814

Identify the application on the lower left corner of the outside envelope as “TITLE VII B APPLICATION - IL-11-01".

Identifying the envelope in this fashion will assure that it is not opened prior to the deadline date and time. Any application opened prior to the designated deadline because the envelope was not marked as instructed will be disqualified if, in the judgment of the DOR's contract officer, there is a possibility that the competitive process was compromised in any way by the early opening.

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ELECTRONIC APPLICATION

1. Electronic submissions must be made within 24 hours (weekends and holidays not included) of the hard copy application’s due date and time.

2. Electronic applications must be e-mailed to Cheryl Kasai at ILgrants@dor.ca.gov. This e-mail address is the only one acceptable for application submissions.

3. E-mail messages containing electronic applications MUST have the following wording on the subject line: ELECTRONIC APPLICATION – RFA IL-11-01

The following elements of the hard-copy application, as identified in Section X ( Submission of Application Required Elements) must be submitted by e-mail, in Microsoft Word narrative format (only), following the instructions above:

Program Proposal Checklist (X, A) Proposal Abstract (X, C), Program Narrative (X, D), Budget narrative (X, E), Agency mission statement with supporting material (X, F), Service area narrative description (X, G), Letters of support (X, H).

Items submitted electronically in any format other than Microsoft Word will be considered non-responsive and will not be acceptable for review and scoring.

Electronic applications that do not contain all of the elements listed above, and/or do not match the hard-copy application in content will be considered non-responsive and will be disqualified from the review process. Letters of support submitted electronically can differ in format from the hard-copy application in that they do not require signatures or original letterhead. To ensure accessibility, they can not contain logos, graphics, or weblinks.

XII. ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE: Guidance and/or clarification of standard requirements of this RFA only will be available from specific staff of the DOR Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section. The only staff member designated to discuss questions regarding this RFA is Cheryl Kasai who may be reached at (916) 558-5769, or ckasai@dor.ca.gov. TTY users may call 711. No other ILATS or DOR staff members will answer questions regarding this RFA.

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No assistance or comments will be made regarding actual content or merit of applications or potential aspects of applications. Staff opinions regarding the relative merits of any application, or portion of it, have no bearing on the selection process.

XIII. REVIEW PROCESS AND REVIEW CRITERIA

A. Review Process

1. Administrative Screening - Applications will be reviewed first by staff from the DOR Contracts and Procurement Section and the Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section for compliance with the requirements in Section V (Eligibility) as outlined in the Proposal Abstract and with Attachment A: Program Proposal Checklist and requirements in Section X (Submission of Application Required Elements). Applications that do not clearly outline a project of community organizing as indicated in this RFA will be disqualified from further review and consideration for funding.

2. Technical Review and Scoring - Applications meeting the eligibility criteria and containing the required elements will be reviewed and scored, based on the review criteria below (B), by a panel composed of up to four (4) state employees or other qualified reviewers as determined and designated by the DOR.

As stated in Section IX (General Requirements), the DOR reserves the right to reject any and all applications. Up to five applications receiving the highest scores from the review panel may be funded; however, the DOR reserves the right not to fund applications that receive an average per reviewer score of 65 points or less.

B. Review Criteria

1. ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: 5 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant demonstrates its commitment to the independent living movement and practice of independent living philosophy, its history of engaging people with disabilities in planning and conducting efforts to influence public policy, program design, and/or program practice that directly affect them, and its commitment to staff the project with persons with disabilities.

2. ORGANIZATION EXPERIENCE: 5 POINTS POSSIBLE

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The applicant presents evidence in its application and letters of support, of its experience and accomplishments related to community organizing, systems change, and activities related to maintaining or increasing access to community based services for people with disabilities.

The applicant demonstrates that it has the expertise and capacity to conduct an effective community organizing campaign to support issues of common interest to persons with disabilities that are related to community based living and Olmstead implementation.

3. ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS: 10 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant presents a comprehensive understanding of the current system of long term care in California. The applicant understands the existing barriers to implementation and/or expansion of community living options and access to community based services and has identified specific barriers for project consideration.

These may include, but are not limited to: public policy development and implementation, program design, program practice, the relationship between federal, state, and local long term care service systems, Medicare/MediCal financing and Medicaid waivers, personal assistance, housing, transportation or other issues.

4. COMMUNITY ORGANIZING MODEL: 20 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant proposes a model of community organizing that will effectively:

recruit and organize persons with disabilities to build power; develop leaders; work cohesively; identify issues and solutions; recruit members and allies; identify people and systems that can make solutions possible; engage targets through education and collective action; plan and strategize for continuing action; and, grow and sustain itself for future action.

5. PROPOSED WORK PLAN: 20 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant’s work plan:

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Clearly identifies activities, strategies, responsible parties, and time frames that will produce an organized constituency that is prepared and able to function in accordance with the required community organizing model elements.

Is designed to develop and implement a community organizing campaign that can prompt systemic changes that support community based living options and community based service availability in California.

Has described how the organizers will continue the organizing campaign during the second and third years of the project.

Has described how the organized constituency will sustain itself and to continue its activities after the grant has ended.

6. PROJECTED OUTCOMES & OBJECTIVES: 15 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant projects clear, specific, measureable outcomes for its community organizing project that will recruit and support an organized constituency of persons with disabilities whose efforts will prompt maintenance or expansion of community living options and availability of community based services that support Olmstead implementation in California.

The applicant has identified specific objective measures of success for each component of their program that may include but is not limited to data about the anticipated organized constituency, development of constituency leadership, evidence of the sustainability of the organized constituency, and expected positive changes achieved or negative changes prevented in the availability of community based living options.

7. EVALUATION: 15 POINTS POSSIBLE

The applicant’s self-evaluation plan provides effective methods to: monitor and evaluate the applicant’s progress in conducting the work

plan, assure that activity, timeline, and outcome projections will be met, prompt programmatic adjustments when necessary, produce detailed, timely, and accurate fiscal and programmatic

reporting,

8. BUDGET: 10 POINTS POSSIBLE

The detailed budget, by line item, for staffing, equipment, and operatingexpenditures to carry out the activities identified in #4, #5, #6, and #7 above, including a description of how the applicant will meet cash flow requirements. The use of the fiscal, staffing and other resources are

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appropriate to achieve the proposed outcomes and goals.

XIV. APPEAL RIGHTS

The California Code of Regulations, Title 9 § 7334 provides for appeal rights for sub-grantees. Applicants who are dissatisfied with a decision of the DOR relative to an application may request a review by the DOR Grant Review Committee. The request for review shall be in writing and shall:

1. Clearly identify all issues in dispute,

2. Contain a full statement of the potential sub-grantee’s position with respect to each issue, and

3. Contain pertinent facts and reasons in support of the potential sub-grantee’s position and the action requested

The written request must be submitted to the DOR within 5 days of the date of the Intent to Award to:

Chief Deputy Director Attn: GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEEDepartment of Rehabilitation- 721 Capitol Mall Sacramento, CA 95814

The Grant Review Committee shall be appointed by the Chief Deputy Director and shall consist of up to four state employees or appointees, selected at the Chief Deputy Director's discretion. The Committee shall review all appeals and shall notify the appellant, in writing, of the decision of the committee within 30 days of the date of the grantee’s appeal request. The decision of the Grant Review Committee is final.

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ATTACHMENT APROGRAM PROPOSAL CHECKLIST

This checklist is to be used by the applicant and administrative screening reviewers to determine if all of the requirements under Section X. Submission of Applicants Required Elements have been met.

Applicant Administrative Screening Reviewer

1. Board President Signed Application Letter: A letter of application signed by the board president that include the amount of funds requested and support of the project activities.

2. Proposal Abstract: A brief (no more than one typed page) summary of the application covering all the eligibility criteria elements.

3. Program Narrative: A narrative application of not more than fourteen (14) pages (single-sided) 8 1/2" x 11", single-spaced, 14 pt. font.

4. Budget Narrative: A budget narrative describing, in narrative form, proposed expenditures by line item using the budget categories of personnel, operating, and equipment, as appropriate including other budget considerations.

5. Agency Mission Statement: A copy of the applicant agency’s mission statement with supporting material that demonstrates how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements of this RFA submitted in Microsoft Word narrative format.

6. Service Area Narrative Description: A detailed description, in narrative form of the area to be served.

7. Letters of Support: Three (3) letters from other organizations or agencies that have been directly involved with the applicant’s work related to community organizing and support for community based living options and Olmstead implementation.

8. Cash Flow Documentation: Documentation of positive cash flow.

9. Tax-Exempt Documents: Copies of letters, from both the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board, confirming the agency's non-profit, tax-exempt status.

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STATE OF CALIFORNIADEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION

INDEPENDENT LIVING & ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SECTION

INTENT TO BID

There may be changes and/or addenda subsequent to this RFA's issuance. Some recipients of the RFA may have received their copy from sources other than the original mailing list. To assure that all interested bidders receive all information applicable to this RFA, please complete and submit an Intent to Bid form. If you have questions regarding the Intent to Bid form, contact Cheryl Kasai by e-mail at ckasai@dor.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 558-5769.

Please accept this notification of our intent to submit an application in response to RFA No. IL-11-01 Community Organizing Grant

INTENT TO BID FORMS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS, however, to assure that you receive any updates/changes to the RFA in a timely manner, please complete this form and FAX or e-mail it to:

Cheryl Kasai, Grants ManagerIndependent Living and Assistive Technology SectionFAX Number: (916) 558-5777 E-mail: ckasai@dor.ca.gov

NOTE: Intent to Bid forms not received at least 15 calendar days prior to the application’s due date may result in changes or updates not reaching applicants prior to the deadline for application submission.

Organization

Name:

Address:

Contact Person

Name:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

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E-mail address

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