Hogg Foundation for Mental Health | RFP: Children’s Mental Health Services in Houston/Harris County Q&As

GENERAL INFORMATION
1.	How many grants will the Hogg Foundation award through this RFP? The foundation anticipates funding multiple grants through this proposal. The number and size of grants awarded will be determined based on the quality of proposals, respondents and communities’ ability to implement the program, and the demonstrated level of need for mental health resources in the community to be served.
2.	When are the proposals due? Proposals are due by 1 p.m., Central Daylight Time (CDT) on Monday, June 22, 2009.
3.	When will the notice of awards occur? Grant recipients will be notified by the foundation by early August 2009.
4.	When will the funds be released? Funding generally is released within three weeks of notification. In the case of multiple-year grants, funding will be allocated and released annually during the grant period.
5.	What is the time period for the grant? Applicants may propose a one-, two- or three-year program.
6.	The RFP states this is for one-, two- or three-year programs. Can we apply next year? The foundation has not determined whether all of the available funds will be awarded through this RFP. That decision will depend on the quality and quantity of proposals that are received and the amount of funds awarded this year.

APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS
1.	Who is eligible to apply? Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible organizations include schools and school districts, day care centers, mental health consumer advocacy organizations, mental health service providers, health care providers, social service providers, other community organizations, colleges and universities, and relevant departments of regional and local government agencies.
2.	May we apply for these dollars as an entity outside of Harris County/Houston? I understand that the programming must take place in Harris County but is there anything to prevent us from applying given our Dallas location? We provide services outside of Harris County. Can we apply for funding? Services provided outside of Houston and Harris County are not eligible for funding through this grant program. Organizations located outside Houston and Harris County may apply for funding for services that are provided in Houston and Harris County, if those services meet the criteria of the RFP.
3.	Is the grant available to counties in Texas in addition to Harris County? No. According to the donor’s wishes, the endowment that funds this grant program may only be used to pay for mental health services for children and families in Houston and Harris County.
4.	Our program is designed to serve children and families in communities of high need. Our current targets include areas of south Houston, northwest Houston and Fort Bend. Do we need to exclude Fort Bend from our proposal since the area is not in Houston or Harris County? Or could we include it since it is an area of need we are targeting for outreach services? Fort Bend would need to be excluded since it is not in Houston or Harris County.
5.	Can a for-profit organization serve as a subcontractor on a grant through the Houston RFP? If so, can you share with us ways that we can get in touch with potential applicants to let them know that we are available to serve as a subcontractor? Yes, proposals may be developed by multiple organizations and a for-profit organization may serve as a subcontractor if the lead is a qualifying nonprofit organization. For example, a school may choose to partner with a mental health service provider for this initiative. In the case of collaborative proposals, a single, Texas-based organization must serve as lead and fiscal agent for a collaborative proposal. The foundation does not maintain contact lists or provide information about potential partners.
6.	Can a health plan that is a Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization apply for this grant? All Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply.
7.	Is funding for school-based services available to private and alternative schools as well as public schools? Private and alternative schools are eligible to apply, if they meet the qualifying criteria.
8.	Are Head Start sites eligible to apply for this grant? Yes.
9.	We previously received funding from the Hogg Foundation to fund our program. If we present a new proposal to support a program similar to the one previously funded, would we be ineligible for funding based on the prior award? Your organization is eligible to apply, as long the services being provided meet the criteria of the request for proposals.
10.	We are currently recipients in the third year of a four-year Hogg Foundation grant initiative. Knowing that our funds might overlap one year, are we eligible to apply for funds being offered through this RFP? Yes, this is a new grant initiative with a focus on children’s mental health, so your organization is eligible to apply.
11.	Are these grants only for new programs? Our goal is to reach more students with proven solutions that the Hogg Foundation originally funded. No, the RFP does not mandate the development of new programs. The purpose of this RFP is to develop and strengthen the provision of quality mental health services and supports for the children and families of Houston/Harris County, with a specific focus on the geographic areas of highest need. The scope and areas of focus for this RFP are built upon the recommendations obtained during a community-wide strategic planning process described in the next section. Regardless of which types of services are to be provided, successful respondents will propose to offer such services in a child-focused, family-driven, community-based and culturally competent manner.
12.	It is our policy to provide all services without charge to the clients or referring agencies. We do not accept government or United Way funding and do not bill insurance companies for services. Does this mean we would not be eligible for funding? We currently provide services to children for free and we are not a billable Medicaid provider. Are we eligible for funding? We provide school-based services to children who are on Medicaid. Our organization has had difficulty with the payment process for billing Medicaid and therefore, we do not receive any third-party payment from Medicaid. Can we use foundation dollars to provide services for which we currently receive no reimbursement? Do we need to estimate the revenue we could have received from third-party billing? Can we use foundation dollars to provide services for which we currently receive no reimbursement? Do we need to estimate our revenue received from third party billing? Funding through this RFP can only be used for services that cannot be billed otherwise to payers. Grantees will be expected to maximize billing to third parties (e.g., Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, private insurance) and to fully utilize available financing strategies and local or other funding sources. If you feel it is not feasible to access or increase third-party billing, please explain why in your proposal.
13.	Can our organization collaborate on a proposed project with another nonprofit (and not serve as lead fiscal agent), and also submit our own proposal to provide mental health services (where we would serve as the fiscal agent)? The funding would be for two very different mental health projects in Houston/Harris County. Could both projects be funded? Yes. Organizations may submit more than one proposal and the foundation will consider funding multiple proposals from a single organization.
14.	Our organization focuses on early childhood, but we would like to offer a continuum of services to address the needs of school-aged children by working in partnership with two other organizations. Is it possible to address the needs of both populations? Or must we focus on one specific age group? Yes. Proposals may address the needs of both populations. Organizations also may submit more than one proposal and the foundation will consider funding multiple proposals from a single organization.
15.	Would your current RFP support an endowed chair at a university? This type of support would have an enduring and major impact on our community for research, teaching and treatment for pediatric mental illness. No. According to the donor’s wishes, the endowment that funds this grant program may only be used to pay for mental health services for children and families in Houston and Harris County.
16.	Are only nonprofits from Harris County eligible to apply or can a Fort Bend agency apply? Who is eligible to apply? Texas-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities are eligible to apply. Organizations located outside Houston and Harris County may apply for funding for services that are provided in Houston and Harris County, if those services meet the criteria of the RFP.