American Indian Special Emphasis Grant RFP Questions and Answers

General

Question: Why is this grant program called “special emphasis”?

Answer: This is what this grant program was named by the legislature, mainly because they wanted to have a special emphasis specifically on historical issues and persistent inequities in the community.

Application

Question: For the urban area grants, are the total amounts for each area listed for one grant or would there be multiple grants for each area? For example, will there be multiple grants in Minneapolis that total up to $200,000 or one grant for up to $200,000?

Answer: The total awards and amounts for each area are approximate and may be based on applications received and awarded.

Question: I am unable to open up the link to the Due Diligence Review Form, linked in the request for proposal. What is the link?

Answer: The Due Diligence Review Form (PDF) link is on Page 13 of the RFP.

Question: I do not see a link to the application. Why?

Answer: The application portion is just to fill out Exhibits A and B, the work plan, and the budget (along with the Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form and Due Diligence Review Form) (RFP Pages 8 – 14).

Question: Exhibit A of the American Indian Special Emphasis Grant asks for a “brief description” of the program. How do you describe brief?

Answer: There is not a strict answer, but less than a page of description could be enough to describe your plan. You may use the work plan table to provide more details.

Question: In filling out the due diligence form, what kind of financial statement do you need? Would a profit and loss from our previous fiscal year suffice?

Answer: Please see RFP Page 4 within Section 4 of the Due Diligence Review Form.
A profit and loss statement from the most recent fiscal year approved by the board may count as a board-approved financial statement.

Funding and project dates

Question: Are the urban area amounts broken up over the 14-month plus additional two-year period?

Answer: The estimated amounts listed for each urban area are for the 15-month grant period (April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025). Applications for this RFP are only for April 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

Question: For the urban area grants, are the total amounts for each area listed for one grant or would there be multiple grants for each area? For example, will there be multiple grants in Minneapolis that total up to $200,000 or one grant for up to $200,000?

Answer: The total awards and amounts for each area are approximate and may be based on applications received and awarded.

Question: The RFP states that the first grant period will be one year and two months, with the next grant period being a full two years, does that mean that organizations funded will automatically receive extended funding for the next round of the full two-year funding cycle? Or will organizations who are funded through this RFP have to apply competitively again?

Answer: We will have another RFP process after this first grant period (ending June 30, 2025). There will be an application process for every grant period (RFP Page 3).

Question: For the urban area grants, are the total amounts for each area listed for one grant or would there be multiple grants for each area? For example, will there be multiple grants in Minneapolis that total up to $200,000 or one grant for up to $200,000?

Answer: The total awards and amounts for each area are approximate and may be based on applications received and awarded.

Eligibility

Question: We have not yet filed for 501(c)3 status with the IRS, but we are registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Are we eligible to apply to this grant? If we are eligible, would we be eligible to apply for the tribal nation track or the urban American Indian organization track?

Answer: Urban American Indian community-based organizations are not required to have 501(c)3 status to be eligible for this grant.

Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's tribal nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

Urban American Indian community-based organizations must serve one of the following urban areas: Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, or Bemidji.

If you were eligible as an urban American Indian community-based organization, you would apply under the organization track since you would not be applying on behalf of a tribal nation (RFP Pages 2-3).

Question: Can you confirm our eligibility? 

• While we are not a tribal nation, we have established strong partnerships with the tribal communities in an eligible region.
• We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and have no history of suspension or debarment by either the state or federal government.
• We operate within the state of Minnesota and the proposed project would exclusively serve the Native American population in an eligible region.

Answer: Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's tribal nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

Question: As for eligible organizations, we would like to consider applying through a registered nonprofit/charitable organization. There would be American Indian organization collaborators as well and the application would be held with the registered nonprofit/charitable organization. Is this an eligible organization? Are there any recommendations or additional things we should consider that are not already on the RFP?

Answer: Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's tribal nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

Question: Is this funding targeted to new programs only or will existing/successful/long-standing programs be considered?

Answer: Yes, existing programs will be considered.

Question: Can you please provide a public source definition for a social service organization?

Answer: Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's tribal nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

Question: Does it align with grant requirements if one organization manages the funds and provides contractual services to another organization for the collaborative efforts? We are going to apply through a “general entity” with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Does this fit with the eligibility requirements?

Answer: Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's tribal nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

If a joint application is submitted, we encourage the applicants to create a management agreement on how they will work together and approach potential conflicts that may arise. The applicant must be a Minnesota tribal nation or urban American Indian community-based organization. While multiple entities might collaborate, only one entity will be named and manage the funds, not subcontracting. Applications may also include subcontracting with another organization. The relationship between the organizations and roles in the work may depend on how organizations approach the application process.

Question: Must an organization that serves urban American Indians serve only American Indians? Or, can the organization have a program that serves urban American Indians as well as other programs that serve all communities, mostly BIPOC communities?

Answer: Eligibility includes Minnesota’s Tribal Nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations (RFP Pages 2-3) .

Question: Can a tribal nation apply to provide programing to members off reservation?

Answer: Yes, if a tribal nation would like to use grant funds for programs to members off reservation, they may apply to do so.

Question: What is the definition of an "urban American Indian community-based organization"?

Answer: While the statute does not define an urban American Indian community-based organization, eligible applicants must be community-based and must serve urban American Indian populations. Organizations broadly designed to serve all people, including urban American Indian communities, but with no apparent focus on urban American Indian communities, would not be the primary focus of this RFP.

Question: We are an association that serves urban-based American Indian communities. May the association apply on behalf of the work of a clinic(s) or must the clinic apply?

Answer: One of the clinics would have to be the main applicant. Eligibility requirements have been updated to be consistent with legislative language and requirements. Organizations eligible to receive grant funding are Minnesota's Tribal Nations and urban American Indian community-based organizations.

Allowable projects

Question: Does this grant allow for elder advocate activities? Examples include: daily one-on-one intakes with elders to address needs; transportation needs; limited medical transportation for local outpatient surgery appointments; wisdom step meetings; caregiver outreach and assistance; and working in a network with the other services/programs to ensure and support elder needs/services.

Answer: As long as these services are not billable or have the ability to be reimbursed from a third party (another funding source like Medical Assistance or other reimbursement for services). Activities that support this work (that is not billable) could potentially be funded through this grant.

Question: Does this grant allow for building construction, renovation, or rehabilitation?

Answer: Building construction, renovation, or rehabilitation are not allowable expenses under this grant.

Question: Could the funds be used for community health assessments? 

Answer: Yes, generally these grant funds could be used for community health assessments.

Question: Can a vehicle (for transporting participants) be purchased with these grant funds?

Answer: A vehicle is not an allowable expense under this grant.

Selection criteria

Question: It appears there are two sets of selection criteria, on Page 8 and on Page 14. Which is accurate?

Answer: RFP Page 8 lists the four selection criteria categories, while Page 14 contains the full list of questions within each category (RFP Pages 8 and 14).

Budget

Question: Are we allowed to use indirect if we do not have any salary or fringe added to this grant?

Answer: Yes, MDH will accept a tribe’s federally approved indirect cost rate or up to 10% of the total direct costs of the budget.