2022 EHDI RFP Questions and Answers
The question and answer period closed on Nov. 30, 2022. To ensure all applicants had access to the same information, questions submitted after Nov. 30 were neither answered nor posted to the website.
Topics:
General
Funding and project dates
Eligible applicants
Collaborations
Information and skill-building sessions
Eligible projects
Project requirements and deliverables
Eligible and ineligible expenses
Application review and selection process
Application instructions and submission
Grant responsibilities and provisions
General
I would like to know roughly the parameters of funding both high and low. Is the grant intended to be multi-year?
The $100,000 to $200,000 per year noted in the RFP on page 6 is our estimated range of annual (one-year) award amounts. While not required, we recommend that applicants request an amount within that range. Please note that this estimate is the annual amount of funding. The grant period is four years starting on July 1, 2023 with a projected end date of June 30, 2027, contingent on satisfactory grantee performance and funding availability.
One question that's come up is if we are to submit one application focusing on chronic disease management and prevention, and another focusing on teen pregnancy prevention within the same geographic region. The reason we are asking is that we feel we can be effective at both but are focusing on different segments within the community, and we weren't sure if the rules were different with TANF funds.
An applicant may submit more than one application (i.e., a separate application for each unrelated project). The anticipated range of annual award amounts for any project, regardless of the number of PHAs addressed, is $100,000 to $200,000.
I cannot find attachments for the presentation specifically Appendix A Root Causes and Appendix E Diabetes.
Appendix A can be found on page 32 and Appendix E starts on page 56 of the EHDI RFP (PDF).
Will the questions in the webinar chat be posted on the website, or do they send the question again via email?
The questions in the webinar chat will be posted on this page – the 2022 EHDI RFP Questions and Answers webpage.
Our after school program for students of color teaches a sport and promotes fitness, nutrition, and wellbeing. This is our Level 1 work. We also greatly increase educational outcomes (HS and college) with strong first-gen focus. Because this education work is more institutional change (supplementing missing afterschool programming at low-income schools) than policy/environment change, should we reference Level 2 rather than 3, even though we are changing social determinants of health?
Projects can address more than one level of change. We view change on a continuum, and projects do not have to fit perfectly inside one of these three levels of change. Please note that during the application review process, reviewers will be instructed that the content of an applicant’s response regarding their project’s level of change is more important than identifying the “correct” level of change.
In general, however, projects that address individual or family-level risk or protective factors would be considered level 1 change, even if the risk or protective factor is also a social or economic condition for health. Another way to think about this is to ask yourself, what is the change you want to make? Even if the activity is conducted in an institutional setting (the school), if the desired change is improvement in the health of your students, that would be level 1 change. However, if you are aiming to change school policy so that afterschool programming is enhanced, such as with more dedicated funding and staff, that would be level 2 change. It becomes a level 3 change if the activity is implemented on a wider scale to change afterschool programming policy in the school district or statewide and address related issues such as hiring of staff of color or American Indian staff in afterschool programs.
Could one organization be funded for multiple projects if each is submitted separately?
An applicant may submit more than one application (i.e., a separate application for each unrelated project) and could be funded for multiple projects.
Can we apply with two separate applications in two different health priority areas (Reproductive Health and Diabetes) for the same funding round?
Yes, the RFP states that an applicant may submit more than one application, and those applications may be for different priority health areas.
Could you please confirm that MDH is not requiring letters of commitment or support for funded partners?
Letters of intent, commitment or support should not be submitted. The RFP states that applicants should not provide any materials that are not requested in the RFP (e.g., memorandums of understanding [MOUs] or letters of support), as such materials will not be considered or evaluated.
My organization is fiscally-sponsored and I have a question on staffing. I hire contractors annually to perform work requested. What area would I submit for the: Staff on EHDI project, leadership (some contractors are planners and leaders on the project)? Where can I find additional organizational qualifications for this grant?
The application form states that staff on the EHDI project should include all staff and supervisors who will be paid for partly or entirely out of the EHDI grant budget or through any in-kind or matching funds. If contractors are implementing the grant activities, then please include them in this section.
For the makeup of leadership, this includes all senior leadership positions within the lead organization (not the fiscal sponsor). If contractors will be acting in leadership positions for this grant, then they may also be included in this section.
The makeup of the board also refers to board members for the lead organization, not the fiscal sponsor.
Information on eligible applicants can be found on Page 6 of the RFP.
Funding and project dates
Is funding only for new projects, or can it be applied to existing projects?
Funding can be applied to both new projects and existing projects. However, please note that according to the EHDI statute (Minn. Stat. §145.928), funds may not be used to supplant current county or Tribal expenditures.
Is this a reimbursing fund or are funds delivered at the beginning of the grant cycle/year?
Per the State Policy on Grant Payments (PDF), reimbursement is the method for making grant payments. State policy allows advance payments to be made to grantees in certain exceptional situations. If a grantee requires advance payment to start up a program, negotiations will be made after a grant award is offered and before a grant agreement is executed.
If we apply for two different PHAs is $200K the maximum per project regardless of the number of PHAs or, if the project has 2 PHAs, would $400K be the maximum award we could apply for?
An applicant may submit a proposal for a project that addresses multiple priority health areas (PHAs). The anticipated range of annual award amounts for any project, regardless of the number of PHAs addressed, is $100,000 to $200,000. Please note that an applicant may submit more than one application (i.e., a separate application for each unrelated project).
Can organizations request more than $200,000 annually? We are a current grantee who is funded above this amount receiving both TANF and general state funds.
The $100,000 to $200,000 per year is our estimated range of annual (one-year) award amounts. While not required, we recommend that applicants request an amount within that range.
Can you point us to information on how small nonprofits manage the reimbursement nature of the grant? Since finance charges are ineligible, we can't take out a loan to cover fees for the year before funds are received. Given the community focus of EDHI, there must be models to do this without raising extra outside funds to cover prior to payment.
Please note that funds are reimbursed to organizations monthly, so organizations do not need to have a full year’s worth of expenses available up front. The State has 30 days to pay a grantee’s invoice from the date it is received.
State policy allows advance payments to be made to grantees in certain exceptional situations. If a grantee requires advance payment to start up a program, negotiations will be made after a grant award is offered and before a grant agreement is executed.
As another option, some small nonprofits choose to work with fiscal agents to help manage the reimbursement model of the grant and other financial requirements.
Could one organization be funded for multiple projects if each is submitted separately?
An applicant may submit more than one application (i.e., a separate application for each unrelated project) and could be funded for multiple projects.
Eligible applicants
I am inquiring if my clinic would qualify to apply for this grant? I am a physician at Evergreen Primary Care. We are a private primary care clinic, and we operate based off monthly fees that our patients pay - it ranges from free care to $80 a month per patient. However, we are not a 501c3. I am interested in proposing a comprehensive diabetes care (culturally sensitive dietitian, pharmaceutical companies, endocrinologist, exercise program, and primary care doctor) free of charge to diabetic Hmong patients.
Yes, private entities are eligible to apply.
I am inquiring about our eligibility status for this opportunity. We would like to apply as a collaboration; the fiscal agent and project lead would be a higher education institution and our project partner/collaborator a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Are we eligible to apply based on this set-up? Thank you for your time.
Yes, multi-organization collaborations are welcomed and encouraged. Organizations that collaborate on proposals are encouraged to compensate partners appropriately for their contributions and to consider equity in deciding how resources are distributed among partner organizations.
Would a mental health / community health education organization quality as a social service organization?
Yes, this type of organization is eligible to apply.
Are faith-based universities that are classified as 501c3 eligible to apply? The lead researcher is a faculty at the university who will be partnering with MDH and a federal environmental agency to do health disparities research on Minnesota populations.
Yes, this type of organization is eligible to apply. However, please note that EHDI grants are not research grants.
I am part of a for-profit health care organization. Are those types of organizations eligible for these grants if we are focused on health disparities?
Since the list of examples of eligible applicants as stated in the RFP (and EHDI statute) is not exclusive, for-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Section 1 of the scoring criteria (page 36 of the RFP) lays out the criteria for how lead organizations will be scored.
This question is in response to the answer of a previously submitted question: Q:"Are faith-based universities that are classified as 501c3 eligible to apply? The lead researcher is a faculty at the university who will be partnering with MDH and a federal environmental agency to do health disparities research on Minnesota populations." A:"Yes, this type of organization is eligible to apply. However, please note that EHDI grants are not research grants." What is meant by EHDI grants are not research grants? I read on Page 5 of the RFP that research-based projects (including quantitative/qualitative studies) are eligible for funding.
In the RFP, “research-based projects” describes projects that address a priority health area by using strategies and activities that are tied to and/or include elements that draw from published literature, which could include both qualitative and quantitative studies. Per the EHDI statute, Minn. Stat. §145.928, grant activities must contribute to measurable outcomes in the reduction of health disparities.
Are for-profit health clinics eligible for application to EHDI? What if we partner with a not-for-profit community organization?
Since the list of examples of eligible applicants as stated in the RFP (and EHDI statute) is not exclusive, for-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Section 1 of the scoring criteria (page 36 of the RFP) lays out the criteria for how lead organizations will be scored.
NorthPoint is looking to apply for EHDI funding in the Unintentional Injuries and Violence PHA. We are seeking to develop and offer a program for women (it is conceivable to have men as well) and children who have been impacted by domestic violence. This evidence-based program engages guardians and children in a structured group program that entails communal dinner, art activities, and break out group sessions for children and parents/guardians. The structured group portion entails topics associated with safety planning, processing past experiences, building self-esteem, and maintaining health boundaries with others. We would like to know if our project would be eligible.
If a project contributes to eliminating disparities in one of the eight priority health areas for populations of color and American Indians, it is an eligible project. Please refer to Appendices C-J for more information on the eight priority health areas.
We are a 501c4 in transition to a 501c3. Our activities are community-based and coalition building toward students health equity. We do not lobby or campaign for candidates. Our application for 501c3 has not yet been approved. Are we eligible to apply?
Yes, eligible applicants are not limited to 501c3 nonprofit organizations. The list of examples of eligible applicants as stated in the RFP (and EHDI statute) is not exclusive.
Are academic health enters considered eligible applicants if they have community partners?
Since the list of examples of eligible applicants as stated in the RFP (and EHDI statute) is not exclusive, academic health centers are considered eligible applicants.
Collaborations
One of the agencies we would like to collaborate with is Child Protective Services. Would this be an eligible collaboration?
Yes, this is an eligible collaboration. There are no restrictions around collaborative partners.
Can you please provide some parameters for the “partners involved” information sought? What is needed to make a partnership official? Can more entities be identified during the grant period?
There are no requirements regarding what is needed to make a partnership official. Many organizations choose to create a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with their partners, but this is not required. Partners may be identified during the grant period as well.
The exception noted in the RFP is if a non-tribal applicant proposes to work with a tribal government or tribal community, the applicant must be prepared to provide written verification that the Tribal government approves of the project before a grant agreement can be made final. Written verification will be requested at the time an award is offered.
Information and skill-building sessions
Will these slides (information session) be posted so we can reference them later?
Yes. The slides will be posted on the EHDI RFP webpage.
Where can I find the recording of the webinar that was held Friday, Oct. 14?
The webinar will be posted on the EHDI RFP webpage as soon as the captioning process is complete.
Eligible projects
Will eligible projects need to be serving exclusively populations of color and American Indians?
EHDI is designed to support projects intentionally targeted to communities of color and American Indian communities. Nonetheless, if funded, individuals do not have to be turned away from services. We also recognize that approaches to equity should be both intersectional and multipronged. Applications focused at the intersections of race/ethnicity and other identities/communities experiencing inequities are welcome (e.g., projects serving LGBTQ+ people of color, American Indians with disabilities, etc.).
Can I please get a list of past grant projects funded?
Applicants can find a list of current and previous grantees on the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative webpage.
Does domestic violence fit within the Injury/Violence disparity category?
Yes, domestic violence can fit within this Priority Health Area.
Is the purchase of a mammography unit an allowable project activity / budget item?
Any individual piece of equipment that costs more than $5,000 is not eligible expense. MDH will review and approve any equipment expenses less than $5,000 on a case-by-case basis upon an award offer.
Our organization is considering joining a consortium that plans to apply for EHDI funds. Would our status as a sub-grantee in this consortium preclude us from applying independently with an unrelated plan for EHDI funding?
No, your status as a sub-grantee does not exclude you from applying independently on an unrelated project.
Does the Breast & Cervical project category require both breast & cervical? We are interested in focusing on reduction of morbidity and mortality from breast cancer in communities of African heritage.
No, you can focus on one or both areas for this Priority Health Area (PHA).
Are programs focused on serving behavioral health (such as executive function) and health comorbidities such as obesity, teen pregnancy, criminality, etc. considered for funding at this time?
Any project that addresses one or more of the 8 priority health areas listed in the RFP (teen pregnancy prevention, breast & cervical cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS & STIs, immunizations, infant mortality & prenatal care, injury & violence ) is eligible for funding.
Our project involves the use of a mobile health app using culturally-tailored resources to promote heart health. We are wondering if the Health Promotion/Direct Services Level of Change is most appropriate. We are unsure if the app would be considered a "direct service."
Yes, this activity sounds like it would fit in the Health Promotion/Direct Service level of change if it is focused on individual behavior change.
Accurate data for many priority health areas in our target group is either unavailable or unreliable. One of our proposed activities in the work plan would be to conduct a two-research project with faculty at the U of M to generate reliable data about reproductive health in our communities. Would this be considered an ineligible 'research project,' or could funds be used towards conducting new qualitative and quantitative studies in a PHA?
In general, EHDI does not fund research projects. If qualitative or quantitative data is collected to inform the implementation of grant activities, this may be an eligible activity as part of a proposal. However, if the bulk of the funds are for research and there is not a clear strategy to reduce reproductive health disparities, then this would not be an eligible proposal.
Children’s Dental Services has been looking into applying for the EHDI funding opportunity but wanted to determine that we are eligible/it made sense for us to apply. Children’s Dental Services (CDS) is a nonprofit dental clinic, serving low-income and underserved communities across the state of Minnesota. CDS has 3 brick and mortar locations and over 700 mobile-based sites across Minnesota including in schools, head starts, and community locations where we provide comprehensive dental care and oral health education, including an emphasis on commercial tobacco and drug cessation. While we don’t fit exactly into any of the specific PHAs that were listed, we are leading efforts that target specific social and economic conditions for health (social determinants of health) and contributing to eliminating disparities in underserved communities. Can you let us know if you feel that we would be a good fit to apply for this opportunity?
If your project activities are directly linked to and address one or more of the priority health areas (PHAs) listed in the RFP, you may be a good fit to apply. If your organization’s work broadly addresses the social determinants of health but cannot be directly linked to reducing disparities in one or more of these 8 PHAs, then this grant program would not be a good fit for you.
I am wondering if an organization such as the American Diabetes Association would be eligible for the grant? Specifically, we have a Digital American Indian What Can I Eat? program that would go with our application, again, if eligible. I wasn’t sure based on the bullets below, including the first two: The EHDI program is grounded in several principles, including: • Community issues require community solutions. • Effective initiatives are co-created with and supported by the community served.
Information about eligible applicants can be found on page 6 of the RFP. Project eligibility requirements begin on Page 11 of the RFP. In summary, eligible proposals should serve populations of color and/or American Indian populations, address one or more priority health areas (PHA), and address one or more levels of change. All grantees should authentically engage and work in partnership with community members experiencing inequities in their selected PHA to ensure activities and strategies are co-created, appropriate and welcomed by the community. If your project meets these requirements, then it is eligible.
Project requirements and deliverables
Can the one staff person (at least .5 FTE dedicated to the project) be split among two people? Our project would require 2 types of expertise and involvement. Dedicating .25 FTE to each role is more cost effective. Thanks.
No, each grantee must have one staff person who will serve as the primary liaison to MDH who has at least 0.5 FTE dedicated to the project. Organizations may choose to pay partial or full salaries of other staff who will contribute to grant objectives in addition to this primary liaison.
Are tribal entities able to use their internal development departments to do the evaluation required for the grant?
Yes.
Our organization has historically applied for multiple PHAs as a family-centered primary care clinic. Should our goals in the work plan be specific to 1 PHA area and the subsequent objectives, strategies and activities? Or can we have a goal that address multiple PHAs with relevant objectives, strategies and activities?
You can have a goal that addresses multiple PHAs. However, please note that applicants should submit separate applications for each unrelated project.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of Levels of Change, Objectives, Strategies, and/or Activities that must be included in the Work Plan?
There is not a minimum or maximum, however please note that work plan may not exceed 12 pages. To ensure that all applicants’ work plans have a similar format and length for the review process, we request that applicants use 11-point Calibri font in the work plan tables.
We are proposing solutions for Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Breast and Cervical Cancer PHAs that fall within Level of Change I. The Cardio and Diabetes PHAs have the same plans, but the Breast and Cervical Cancer PHA has different outcomes, strategies, and activities. Can I combine these in one grant application? Also, we are proposing a Level of Change II response for data collection and reporting for all PHAs covered above. Can this be included in the same grant application?
If the breast and cervical cancer work is distinct and separate from the other work, project, please submit as a separate application. However, if the projects are related (for example, they use overlapping activities, project participants are the same, etc.), they may be combined in one application. Applicants should submit separate applications for each unrelated project. A single application may include multiple levels of change.
Does the 12-page limit include the Project Narrative and the Work Plan, combined? Is the page formatting single or double-spaced?
The 12-page limit is for the work plan, not including the project narrative, and the formatting is single-spaced.
Eligible and ineligible expenses
Can you provide clarifying examples around what constitutes an ineligible expense re: ongoing medical care or treatment of disease(s) or disability? In other words, could limited time or discrete treatment be an eligible expense?
Ongoing medical care or treatment of disease(s) or disability is an ineligible expense. Any other expenses related to medical care would need to be pre-approved by a grant manager. Please feel free to submit an additional question if you have specific examples.
Following up on previous question, "Can you provide clarifying examples around what constitutes an ineligible expense re: ongoing medical care or treatment of disease(s) or disability?" We are wondering if a treatment like acupuncture for prenatal birthing people in a community-based, supportive housing alternative to incarceration would be an eligible expense for this grant program.
This would likely be considered an eligible expense. However, MDH will negotiate any atypical expenses not included in the Ineligible Expenses list on page 18 of the RFP on a case-by-case basis upon an award offer. These negotiations will take place before a grant agreement is made final.
On an initiative that promotes active and healthy lifestyles would a fitness center membership for participants be an allowed expense?
This would likely be considered an eligible expense. However, MDH will negotiate any atypical expenses not included in the Ineligible Expenses list on page 18 of the RFP on a case-by-case basis upon an award offer. These negotiations will take place before a grant agreement is made final.
Knowing that cash payments to participants are ineligible, are vouchers with a cash value equivalent also disqualified (i.e., for sports shoes and equipment)?
Vouchers may be an eligible expense since they are not direct cash payments to participants. Please note that any expense will have to be approved by a grant manager before grant activities begin.
Are nurse-delivered care coordination services (e.g., helping patients access care by removing barriers to cancer screening) considered eligible expenses? This type of care is not reimbursable. Thanks!
Care coordination services are an eligible expense. Please note that any expense will have to be approved by a grant manager before grant activities begin.
Are we able to lease a vehicle with this funding for our project needs?
Leasing a vehicle is an ineligible expense.
Application review and selection process
Please say some more about what reviewers will be looking for around a project being grounded in cultural knowledge and wisdom? It’s a very broad concept and it would help to have more definition of what CHE/EHDI is looking for here.
EHDI is grounded in the value of honoring cultural knowledge & wisdom. We value indigenous, cultural ways of healing and recognize health as a complete state of physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing.
Our group has more experience writing for federal grants rather than state initiatives - could you highlight any key differences in this application as opposed to typical federal applications? Is it possible to share any previous awardees or successful applications as an example?
Depending on the funder, applications can vary significantly, so it’s hard to highlight key differences. However, to understand how applicants will be scored for this grant, applicants are encouraged to score their own application using the application scoring criteria in Appendix B of the RFP before submitting their application. This step is not required but may help applicants ensure that their applications address the criteria evaluators will use to score applications.
For a list of past and present grantees, please reference the EHDI webpage.
Application instructions and submission
Can we use a word document and cut and paste?
Yes, you can use a Word document to write out your answers and then copy and paste them into the RFP application form (PDF). Please note that character limits are enforced in the application form and include spaces.
The budget instructions mention that applicants must submit a budget narrative and summary that will be used during the first two years of the grant (July 2023 - June 2025). However, the budget spreadsheet, tab FY24-25 Budget lists in cell F23 "Year 3 Total for Salary & Fringe" and in cell F32 "Year 4 Total for Salary & Fringe." Should they be "Year 1" and "Year 2"?
Yes, you are correct. The cell F23 should read Year 1 Total for Salary & Fringe. We will make that correction and re-upload the corrected budget template.
The RFP instructs that applicants must request one annual amount of funding that does not vary from year to year. However, we are looking to budget in merit increases for year two. Can the sub-totals vary from year-to-year (we will include justification) if the annual amount does not vary?
Yes, the subtotals may vary from year-to-year, while the total annual amount remains the same.
The PDF application form cannot be saved. I get a message saying, "The original document cannot be changed, so a duplicate copy has been created." If information is typed into the duplicate form (or the original form for that matter), the only thing that shows up when reopening the form is the text that I typed in--not the form itself. How can this be resolved?
Please try downloading the PDF application form and then opening it with Adobe Acrobat. If the issue persists, please try a different device and/or operating system. If none of these options work, you are welcome to submit your application in another written format that does not exceed the character limits.
I am in the process of responding to the EHDI RFP. I would like to print the application and complete it so I can cut and pace into the online submission form. I have not been able to print the document it or to save it so I can continue to work on it. I would like your help with this.
Please note that there is not an online submission form for this grant. Rather, the completed PDF application form must be submitted via email along with the applicant's workplan, budget, due diligence review form and applicant conflict of interest disclosure form. If you continue to have issues with the PDF application form, please email us at health.ommh@state.mn.us or call us at 651-201-5813.
Do churches have to submit IRS form 990?
In the due diligence review form, question 15 (under section 4) states the requirements for when an applicant is required to submit IRS form 990. The question states, “If your answer to question 14 (14. What was your nonprofit’s total revenue (income, including grant funds) in the most recent twelve-month accounting period?) is $50,000 - $750,000, then attach your most recent IRS form 990.”
We are submitting a Level 1 response for three PHAs under one application. We are also submitting a data-focused (Level 2) response for these three PHAs. Should we include all of them in one application or submit the Level 2 plan under a separate application?
Applicants should submit separate applications for each unrelated project. If there are 2 separate projects, one for the Level 1 change and one for the Level 2 change, please submit two separate applications. However, a single cohesive project may include multiple levels of change, and if so, would require only one application.
The RFP notes that we should add rationale to justify our selection of strategies and activities. We are supposed to demonstrate knowledge about the disparities that affect our target populations. Are we supposed to add references in the narrative? This seems like it would take up a huge portion of the character count. For example, if we mention the MDH 2021 Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Surveillance Report, do we have to list this out? Or would saying MDH report suffice? Or would we need to include more details like the link. Same question regarding research / other references.
References can be used when creating a rationale to justify the selection of strategies that are based in research. When including a reference, please include the specific report name. Links are optional. References may be brief to save space.
Are we allowed to submit tables/figures with our grant application? We believe this would allow for a more comprehensive view of our clinic model.
No. The application form does not allow for tables/figures to be created or pasted in.
Do the character limits include spaces?
Yes, character limits include spaces.
Grant responsibilities and provisions
Will we submit another workplan after the first two years?
Yes, selected applicants will be asked to submit another workplan in year two for the remaining two years.
I wanted to reach out and inquire about possibly working with MDH regarding the Eliminating Health Disparities RFP as a grant reviewer. I have previously worked with different departments within MDH to conduct confidential reviews with other reviewers and wanted the opportunity to expand on my grant writing skills.
Thank you for your interest in being an EHDI reviewer. We will be sending out more information in the coming weeks about how to apply to be a reviewer.