FAQs: MMHU-2

Technical Assistance Session

Technical Assistance Session recordings will be posted 5-7 days after the session has occurred.

General Questions and Answers

The following table answers general questions about the NOFO and NOFO process.

#	Question	Answer
1. Application
1.1	Should I register as an individual or an organization?	Please register as an individual.
1.2	Can more than one person complete the application?	Yes. Collaborators can be added to the application process.
1.3	Will I receive an email notification when my application is submitted?	Yes. If you do not receive this email, please ensure the entire application was completed. In addition to completing each section, the entire application must be submitted. If you do cannot find this email, please contact the help desk.
2. NOFO
2.1	Who are the SME’s that write the NOFOs?	The SMEs that write the NOFOs are individuals at Advocates for Human Potential who have demonstrated expertise and knowledge on the topic/initiative being funding, including the services that will be funded through the NOFO. These SMEs include individuals with diverse backgrounds who live in Illinois and are familiar with Illinois’ SUD prevention, treatment and recovery systems, and some are people with lived experience. SUPR also provides SMEs that draft the original statement of work that is then used to construct the NOFOs.
3. Reviews
3.1	Will I be notified if there is a problem with my application?	During the prequalification process, applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility to determine whether they will be considered for funding. You will be notified if your application does not meet those criteria. However, once submitted, no further changes can be made to the application.
3.2	Who is on the selection committee for each NOFO?	The review committee includes, at a minimum, three individuals who are SMEs on the topic area, and/or are people with lived experience.
4. Awards
4.1	Can an entity be awarded multiple awards? As in, applying for two different NOFOs and receiving an award for both.	Yes, an entity can apply for and, if eligible and has the capacity to fulfill the requirements of each, may be awarded more than one award.
5. Communications
5.1	How will I receive updates from AHP?	Please ensure that your organization has whitelisted the following emails/email domains, so you can ensure you receive all communications. ilrcca@ahpnet.com – RCCA program email address (and any email from ahpnet.com) noreply@sign.ironcladapp.com – Ironclad, which AHP uses to send notices of awards and non-awards noreply@mail.smapply.net – Survey Monkey Apply, which AHP uses to communicate with applicants support@ahpnet.freshdesk.com – Freshdesk, which AHP uses to manage all communications that come to the ILRCCA@ahpnet.com email account or are submitted directly on the platform through the Contact Us page.

#	Question	Answer
1. Application
1.1	Should I register as an individual or an organization?	Please register as an individual.
1.2	Can more than one person complete the application?	Yes. Collaborators can be added to the application process.
1.3	Will I receive an email notification when my application is submitted?	Yes. If you do not receive this email, please ensure the entire application was completed. In addition to completing each section, the entire application must be submitted. If you do cannot find this email, please contact the help desk.
2. NOFO
2.1	Who are the SME's that write the NOFOs?	The SMEs that write the NOFOs are individuals at Advocates for Human Potential who have demonstrated expertise and knowledge on the topic/initiative being funding, including the services that will be funded through the NOFO. These SMEs include individuals with diverse backgrounds who live in Illinois and are familiar with Illinois’ SUD prevention, treatment and recovery systems, and some are people with lived experience. SUPR also provides SMEs that draft the original statement of work that is then used to construct the NOFOs.
3. Reviews
3.1	Will I be notified if there is a problem with my application?	During the prequalification process, applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility to determine whether they will be considered for funding. You will be notified if your application does not meet those criteria. However, once submitted, no further changes can be made to the application.
3.2	Who is on the selection committee for each NOFO?	The review committee includes, at a minimum, three individuals who are SMEs on the topic area, and/or are people with lived experience.
4. Awards
4.1	Can an entity be awarded multiple awards? As in, applying for two different NOFOs and receiving an award for both.	Yes, an entity can apply for and, if eligible and has the capacity to fulfill the requirements of each, may be awarded more than one award.
5. Communications
5.1	How will I receive updates from AHP?	IL RCCA Whitelist Copy Please ensure that your organization has whitelisted the following emails/email domains, so you can ensure you receive all communications. ilrcca@ahpnet.com – RCCA program email address (and any email from ahpnet.com) noreply@sign.ironcladapp.com – Ironcloud, which AHP uses to send notices of awards and non-awards noreply@mail.smapply.net – Survey Monkey Apply, which AHP uses to communicate with applicants support@ahpnet.freshdesk.com – Freshdesk, which AHP plans to use for help desk communications in the future jira@ahp.atlassian.net – Jira, which AHP uses to manage all communications that come to the ILRCCA@ahpnet.com email account or are submitted directly on the help desk platform.

NOFO Questions and Answers

The following table includes questions asked regarding the NOFO. Questions and answers will be updated each Friday afternoon during the application period beginning 11/1/2024. Please note, you must check this page for responses to your question.

Questions must be submitted by November 29, 2024 at 5:00 pm. The final update is anticipated to occur on December 6.

#	Question	Answer
1	Are we able to purchase vehicles?	Per 2 CFR 200.439, purchase of a vehicle is a capital expenditure. Capital expenditures are not allowable costs. This funding can be used to lease vehicles such as vans/buses customized for the provision of services, staff/personnel, medication, and services that are not otherwise funded through health insurance, IDHS/SUPR or other government grants or correctional institutions/jails.” Vehicle leases are permissible as long as the lease agreements are not “lease-to-own or rent-to-own”. The budget narrative must indicate number of staff per vehicle leased that will utilize the vehicle along with the purpose of the travel.
2	Can you clarify whether the licensure initiation process applies to methadone for providers who do not provide methadone at the time of applying but do provide buprenorphine and naltrexone and what “initiated” means?	Task 4 of the NOFO requires that “within 365 days of award, the subrecipient must launch the MMHU with capacity to: (a)Prescribe and/or dispense at least two of the three FDA-approved medications. NOTE: One of those medications must be methadone (dispense) or buprenorphine (dispense or prescribe). Due to the complexities associated with dispensation of methadone, no time frame is required. If prescribing, case management services must be provided to assist patient in obtaining medication, and receipt of medication must be confirmed in outcome measures.” The expectation is that an organization will be able to dispense all three medications as indicated in Task 3. However, there are complexities of dispensing methadone and a timeframe has not been designated for methadone. The process to obtain or renew any required licensures for these three medications must begin prior to the submission of the implementation plan as required under Task 3(a). If the organization chooses buprenorphine (dispense or prescribe) and naltrexone within the first 365 days of the award, rather than methadone and naltrexone, then the requirement of Task 4 would be satisfied. “Initiated” means that the process to obtain or renew any required licensures for the three required medications must begin prior to the submission of the implementation plan as required under Task 3(a).
3	Are organizations who already prescribe or dispense buprenorphine and naltrexone required to obtain licensure for methadone?	Yes, subrecipients must work to obtain licensing to, as noted in Section A.5., Task 3 of the NOFO, “dispense the three forms of U.S. FDA-approved medications U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved OUD medications (buprenorphine, naltrexone, and methadone).” However, “due to the complexities associated with dispensation of methadone, no time frame is required.” (See Task 4).
4	Can only current OTPs apply?	Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) directly licensed by IDHS/SUPR may apply independently or in partnership with primary healthcare organizations or in collaboration with community programs, including harm reduction organizations, medical providers, and community treatment providers.
5	According to the MMHU NOFO, “Funding will ensure that patients within the priority populations receive immediate care for acute and chronic conditions, including SUD/OUD, wherever it is sought in the service area”. Is it an allowable expense and within the grant scope to lease a vehicle to transport new clients identified through mobile services to the brick-and-mortar for induction? Or is induction required to be provided in the community?	The services must be provided “where it is sought” in the service area.

#	Question	Answer
1	Are state and local government entities eligible to apply?	Per C.1. of the NOFO, applicants must be a non-profit, for-profit, or tax-exempt entity located in Illinois and qualified to do business with the state of Illinois.
2	The NOFO states that, “the maximum award applied for should be $300,000 for the initial period of performance. Funding period 1 will span October 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, and funding period 2 will span July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.” Does that mean we can request $300,000 for funding period #1 and $300,00 for funding period #2 for a total of $600,000 OR is it $300,000 total across both funding periods?	Yes, the award range for each funding period is $250,000 – $300,000 for each funding period. Award amounts will be based on RCCA-approved budgets and the availability of State funding. Budgets must be sufficiently detailed and justified to be approved by the RCCA.
3	Can federal entities apply?	Per C.1. of the NOFO, applicants must be a non-profit, for-profit, or tax-exempt entity located in Illinois.
4	Is a county considered a 'tax-exempt entity'?	Yes.
5	When we have the WARM Kickoff meeting, (inviting all community members and organizations), will the food purchased for the Kickoff meeting be allowable costs? Are the costs associated with sober fun events and supplies allowable expenses?	Supplies for program activities that are necessary and reasonable based on the activity contained in the Statement of Work, are justified in the Budget Narrative, and are allowable under Subpart E of 2 CFR 200 are permissable.
6	Are there any age distinctions for this opportunity?	The WARM funding notice does not contain any age distinctions, but does state that "Services shall be designed for a population disparately affected by the opioid crisis." Descriptions of priority service areas and population characteristics with the highest need are described in Section A.3. of the notice.
7	Dropdowns in the WARM budget are not working.	The budget has been revised as of 6/6 and may be downloaded on the WARM NOFO Overview page.
8	Must applicant propose to pay for the first-month's rent or pay for other moving costs if other housing services are being provided by the grant?	The determination of which housing costs to fund may be determined by the organization's program procedures.
9	Can federal entities apply?	Federal entities may not apply on their own, but may partner with another organization to accomplish the program objectives.
10	Must applicant propose to pay for the first-month's rent or pay for other moving costs if other housing services are being provided by the grant?	The determination of which housing costs to fund may be determined by the organization's program procedures.
11	Inpatient Treatment is listed as an option to consider for individuals that will experience a significant housing transition upon discharge that we can focus on for the proposal. Does this include residential Level III substance use treatment programs? If so, is it an acceptable strategy to identify clients for the project that would come from our own level III residential substance use treatment programs?	As noted in NOFO Section A.5, Programs must: "provide peer recovery support services using a warm handoff model," "services shall be designed for a population disparately affected by the opioid crisis," and "the subrecipient must establish relationships, agreements, and protocols to implement the model. Relationships should include, as aligned with the proposed model, the following: a. One or more hospital, jail, prison, or provider of homelessness services; and b. MAR providers, other community-based SUD treatment providers, homelessness Continuums of Care, providers of housing/homelessness services, overdose education and naloxone distribution programs, recovery community organizations (RCOs), and harm reduction groups."
12	If the correctional facility applying for these funds is held within the county administration, would you like to see the organizational budget and chart for the jail or the county? How specific should these charts and budgets be? Should they pertain to the county as a whole, or can they pertain to the relevant departments?	The budget should include the overall county budget and the revenues and expenditures of the relevant department.
13	For question 80 in the Survey Monkey application portal, should said individual be the county board chairperson or the jail superintendent who will be coordinating the program?	The individual should be the name of the person submitting the application and must be authorized by the organization to do so.
14	Whose signature should be on the conflict of interest form?	The conflict of interest should be signed by a designated grantee representative of the entity receiving the award.
15	As a consulting organization, are we allowed to turn in the application on the correctional facility's behalf?	A consulting organization may submit the application on the correctional facility's behalf if authorized to do so by the applicant organization and clearly indicated in the application.
16	Our organization helps individuals transition out of nursing facilities and into independent living. Would this type of housing transition be included in the scope of services for WARM?	As noted in NOFO Section A.5, Programs must: "provide peer recovery support services using a warm handoff model," "services shall be designed for a population disparately affected by the opioid crisis," and "the subrecipient must establish relationships, agreements, and protocols to implement the model. Relationships should include, as aligned with the proposed model, the following: a. One or more hospital, jail, prison, or provider of homelessness services; and b. MAR providers, other community-based SUD treatment providers, homelessness Continuums of Care, providers of housing/homelessness services, overdose education and naloxone distribution programs, recovery community organizations (RCOs), and harm reduction groups."