State Of Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
REVOLVING ACCOUNT FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF PROBLEM GAMBLING
REQUEST for Proposals for Prevention Consulting
Contents
BACKGROUND SUBMISSION and TIMETABLE INSTRUCTIONS APPENDIX A
Page
2 3-4 4-8 All forms in Appendix A must be completed Form 1 Form 2 Form 3 Form 4 Form 5
Applicant Information Timeline Budget Detail Budget Summary Fiscal Management Checklist
APPENDIX B
Scoring Matrix and Guidelines (Information only)
1
STATE OF NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH and HUMAN SERVICES SFY 2008-2009 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS and INSTRUCTIONS
Revolving account for prevention and treatment of problem gambling Note: This application is also available at http://dhhs.nv.gov/Grants/GrantsManagement.htm BACKGROUND
Pathological gambling is described in the Fourth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) as persistent and recurrent maladaptive gambling behavior that disrupts personal, family or vocational pursuits. A study completed in March 2002 identified a combined prevalence rate of 6.4% for pathological and problem gambling in Nevada; an additional 9.9% of Nevada’s population was identified as being at risk for problem gambling.1 National studies have reported prevalence rates from 2.8% for adults to 14.82% for youth2 while individual state studies have reported prevalence rates from 1.7% to 7.3% among adults.3 Economic and social impacts of problem gambling include bankruptcy, unemployment, welfare, legal costs, business and employment costs, public health costs, and family problems including divorce and/or abuse. In 2003, state legislation was passed for certification of gambling counselors with a credential under the Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselors. In the 2005 session of the Nevada State Legislature, Senate Bill 357 was passed to create a revolving account for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling that was initially slated to sunset as of June 30, 2007. Subsequently, the 2007 Legislature amended the statute to remove the sunset provision, effectively leaving funding in place at the 2007 level. Estimated receipts for the two-year period from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009 total $3,400,000. The Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling was created to advise the Department of Health and Human Services in its administration of this account. Programs funded under the revolving account must fall within the statutory guidelines of NRS 458A http://www.leg.state.nv.us/NRS/NRS-458A.html . Specifically, programs must be directed toward the prevention and/or treatment of problem gambling. Further, Nevada Revised Statutes 641C.250 requires certification for problem gambling counselors under the Nevada Board of Examiners for Alcohol, Drug and Gambling Counselors. Members of the Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling authorized solicitation of applications for the new grant cycle based on the following percentage allocations: problem gambling treatment – 60%; workforce development/training – 12%; research/evaluation – 12%; and prevention/education/awareness – 16%. These are approximations to provide applicants with general guidelines. Actual allocations may vary based on the number and quality of applications received. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE for PREVENTION In the area of prevention, the Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling is seeking some expertise to assist individual grantees in developing appropriate messaging and to guide a workgroup in the development of a statewide problem gambling prevention strategy. In the first funding cycle, five grantees were awarded funding for prevention programs. Because these programs were new to Nevada, grantees were instructed to work with a Subcommittee on Prevention, as well as a
1 2 3
Volberg, Rachel A., Ph.D., Gemini Research, Ltd., Gambling and Problem Gambling in Nevada, 2002 Identified as Shaffer et.al. “Meta-analysis”, 1997 on Connecticut Clearinghouse website at www.clearinghouse.org National Gambling Impact Study Commission, Final Report, 1999
2
contractor, to ensure appropriate and consistent messaging in any materials that were developed for publication and/or distribution. In the upcoming cycle, there will be a continuing need for any new materials to be vetted with the assistance of a contractor experienced in the area of problem gambling. Moreover, there is a need to develop a statewide strategy for problem gambling prevention that can be implemented over the long-term. Again, we are seeking an individual with experience in the area of problem gambling prevention. Conceptually, the prevention contractor would assist the workgroup over the next year (October 2007 through September 2008) to review any new marketing materials created by funded grantees, and to develop a five-year statewide strategic plan for problem gambling prevention. Because the contract would be with the Department of Health and Human Services, the contractor would be directly responsible to the Department for reporting progress on a regular basis.
Eligibility All governmental, educational, nonprofit and for-profit agencies are eligible to apply for funds to provide services consistent with this RFP. Timeframe and Purpose The contract period for this RFP is October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. Up to $50,000 is available for this contract to include the following: 1) Review of materials developed by funded prevention grantees to ensure consistent and appropriate messaging; 2) Up to 8 meetings with a prevention workgroup to develop a 5-year strategic plan for statewide problem gambling prevention; 3) Attendance at up to 4 meetings of the Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling to present recommendations and the final plan; 4) Coordination with staff from the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure timely reporting and up-to-date communications regarding grantee or workgroup activities. Awarding and Funding Process
Department staff will conduct a preliminary review of all submitted proposals and will forward them to the Advisory Committee members for funding recommendations. Applicants should plan to attend the meeting of the Advisory Committee to respond to any questions regarding the proposal. Funding recommendations will be documented by Department staff who will conduct negotiations with the applicants to address any specific issues identified by the Advisory Committee. Adjustment of budgets and activities may be required at that time. Funding decisions will be approved by the Director, based on Advisory Committee recommendations, and are final. There will be no appeal process.
Contact Information Please direct all questions regarding this RFP to Laura Hale at 775 684-4011 or via email at lhale@dhhs.nv.gov. Application Questions and Answers Questions may be submitted through August 22, 2007, with responses through August 23, 2007. A log of all questions will be maintained and posted to the Department website at http://dhhs.nv.gov/Grants/GrantsManagement.htm. 3
Submission of Applications The schedule for submission of applications is outlined in the Time Table below. Failure to submit applications in accordance with the Time Table below will result in disqualification. TIME TABLE August 1 August 23 August 31 September 14 TBD September 21-28 October 9 October 10 Proposal for Problem Gambling Prevention Technical Assistance Publish Solicitation Announcement and Release Request for Proposals Post final Q & A for RFA Full application due with original signatures and 12 copies Staff summaries and scores forwarded to Committee, with proposals Committee Recommendations Contract Negotiations Board of Examiners Review Contract Award Contract
Proposals may be mailed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Grants Management Unit, 4126 Technology Way, Room 100, Carson City, NV 89706. Or, they may be hand-delivered Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on state holidays. NOTE: ALL APPLICANT SUBMISSIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED, OR DATE STAMPED AS
RECEIVED, NO LATER THAN DUE DATES INDICATED IN THE TABLE ABOVE.
NO FAXES OR E-MAILS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR FULL PROPOSALS.
Notice of receipt will be returned via email.
The Department is not responsible for any costs incurred in the preparation of the application or proposals and all materials become the property of the Department. The Department, in coordination with the Advisory Committee on Problem Gambling, reserves the right to accept or reject any or all applications or proposals.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Note: Applicants must provide separate applications for each proposed service. Formatting The technical elements of the application must be completed using the forms in Appendix A. Forms may be duplicated or expanded – but not modified contextually- as needed. The Executive Summary must not exceed 1 page. The narrative sections of the application (5 elements) must not exceed 10 pages, total. No additional materials will be accepted. This includes support letters, cover pages, cover letters, brochures, newspaper clippings, photographs, media materials, etc. This does not include Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) from collaborative partners. Proposals MUST be typed or computer generated. Use a standard font, such as Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman, with a 12-point font size. 4
Proposals may be spaced 1.5 or double, with at least 1” margins all the way around. The proposal must be on 8 ½ X 11” paper, single-sided, numbered sequentially at the bottom of the page, and not bound. Please staple in the top left corner.
NOTE: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE FORMATTING INSTRUCTIONS WILL DISADVANTAGE YOUR PROPOSAL AS COMPARED TO THOSE SUBMITTED ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES. UP TO 5 ADDITIONAL POINTS MAY BE AWARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SCORING MATRIX IN APPENDIX B. Technical Elements The following technical elements are to be submitted together with the narrative proposal. Applicant Information Complete form 1 from Appendix A, providing all requested information and an original signature. Be sure figures on form 1 match figures from other forms or narrative sections. Organizations should list any current certifications of accreditation or equivalent professional standards. This documentation will be considered in the technical review and information will be highlighted for review by the Advisory Committee. See www.uwaysn.org for a sample of an accreditation process. Executive Summary No form is provided for the Executive Summary. Organize a one-page summary providing brief descriptions of narrative sections of the proposal Timeline Using form 2 from Appendix A as a guide, construct a table to identify timelines and measurement for goals, objectives, and major project tasks to accomplish within the grant period. Budget Forms Please complete all budget forms in Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet program. If you downloaded application materials from the Internet or through email, these forms are located in a separate Excel file, on separate tabs. Using the budget definitions below, complete Budget Narrative Form 3. This spreadsheet contains formulas to automatically calculate totals, and links to Budget Summary Form 4 to automatically complete budget totals in column A. Do not override formulas. Be sure all figures add up correctly and that totals match within and between all forms and sections. Budget Definitions Personnel: Staff who are employees of the applicant organization should be identified here. The following criteria are useful in distinguishing employees from contractors:
CONTRACTOR Delivers product Furnishes Tools and/or Equipment Determines means and methods
EMPLOYEE Your organization is responsible for product Your organization furnishes work space & tools Your organization determines means and methods
List direct and indirect staff separately (positions and percent of time to be spent on the project) and 5
total cost. Calculate the total personnel cost. Any class of personnel included in an indirect pool may not be charged directly to this project. Fringe Benefits: List each position and provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages comprising the fringe benefits provided such as health insurance, FICA, etc. List fringe benefits for indirect positions separate from direct positions. Any class of fringe benefits included in an indirect pool may not be charged directly to this project. Contractual/Consultant Services: Project workers who are not employees of the applicant organization should be identified here. Any costs associated with these workers, such as travel or per diem, should also be identified here. Explain the need and/or purpose for the contractual/consultant service. Identify and justify these costs. Typically, there should be no indirect costs in this category. For collaborative projects involving multiple sites and partners, separate from the applicant organization, all costs incurred by the separate partners should be included in this category, with subcategories for Personnel, Fringe, Contract, etc. Written sub-agreements must be maintained with each partner, and the applicant is responsible for administering these sub-agreements in accordance with all requirements identified for direct grantees. You must provide a copy of written agreements with any and all partners. Staff Travel/Per Diem: Travel costs must provide direct benefit to this project. Identify staff who will travel, the purpose, frequency, and projected costs. State rates for per diem, lodging and mileage should be used. Out of state travel, or non-standard fares or rates require special justification. There should be no indirect costs in this category. Equipment: List equipment to purchase or lease costing $1000 or more, and justify these expenditures. “Equipment” costing less than $1000 should be listed under “Supplies.” Equipment that does not directly facilitate the purpose of the project, as an integral component, is not allowed. Equipment purchased for this project must be labeled and tracked as such.
OPERATING COSTS Supplies: List and justify tangible and expendable property, such as office supplies, program supplies, etc. As a general rule, specific supplies do not need to be priced individually, but a list of typical program supplies is helpful. Items that have particularly high costs should be identified specifically. Supplies that are not purchased specifically for the project, but are part of shared costs, must be identified as indirect. Occupancy: Identify and justify any facilities costs associated with the project, such as rent, maintenance expenses, insurance, as well as utilities such as power and water. Typically, these costs are indirect because they serve multiple program purposes, and are not specific to any one project. However, costs for installing or maintaining services specifically for this project purpose are direct and can be charged accordingly. Communications: Identify and justify any communications costs associated with the project, such as telephone 6
services, internet services, cell phones, fax lines, etc. Public Information: Identify and justify any costs for brochures, project promotion, media buys, etc. There should be no indirect costs in this category. Other Expenses: Identify and justify these expenditures, which can include virtually any relevant expenditure associated with the project, such as audit costs, car insurance, client transportation, etc. Sub-awards. mini-grants, stipends or scholarships that are a component of a larger project or program may be included here, but require special justification as to the merits of the applicant serving as a “passthrough” entity, and its capacity to do so. Complete Budget Summary Form 4. If you downloaded electronic forms, Column A of Form 4 should automatically update with the category totals from Budget Narrative Form 3. Column A should reflect only the amount you are requesting under this application. All other funding sources for this specific project must be identified in the remaining columns, with a separate column for each separate source, including in-kind, volunteer, or cash donations. Funding from each source must be identified as “Pending” or “Secured.” Items B and C of the Form are not applicable to this RFP.
Fiscal Management Checklist
Complete Form 5 with current information and documents demonstrating the fiscal management capacity of your organization. This section will be evaluated separately based on your organization’s capacity to administer the contract. IMPORTANT !!! Provide a response to each category of the project narrative in the order provided. Ensure your response addresses all of the instructions listed for each category. Check for spelling mistakes, stylistic inconsistencies, redundancies, factual omissions, and unsupported assumptions. Before submitting the application, a good strategy is to let someone unfamiliar with the project read and critique the project narrative.
Project Narrative
No form is provided for the project narrative. Specific instructions for each category are provided below. Please construct your responses with category headings in the order listed below: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Experience with problem gambling prevention (25 points); Framework for developing strategic plan (30 points); Experience consulting with work groups (20 points); Experience providing technical assistance; and (15 points) Report preparation and presentation. (10 points)
Experience with problem gambling prevention (25) 7
Please describe your experience with problem gambling prevention programs or content development. Provide examples of previous work. Framework for developing strategic plan (30) Describe the framework you would use to develop a strategic plan for statewide problem gambling prevention. What are the possible components of the plan? What partners would you involve and how would you involve them? How would you get buy-in from various stakeholders? How would you involve the gaming industry? How would you leverage out-of-state expertise and/or resources? Experience consulting with work groups (20) Please describe your experience consulting with work groups, focus groups, or committees. Include specific details of your role and contributions to the work product. Experience providing technical assistance (15) Describe your experience providing technical assistance to community-based and/or statewide service providers. Please provide examples of previous work that would relate specifically to content of prevention materials. Report preparation and presentation (10) Describe the elements of a quarterly progress report that you would provide to the Department to summarize activities with the work group and grantees. Describe your experience with formal presentation of reports and recommendations.
SUBMIT THE FULL PROPOSAL WITH ONE ORIGINAL SIGNATURE SET AND TWELVE (12) COPIES.
8