The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Division of Family Health (DFH), Bureau of Women, Infant, and Adolescent Health (BWIAH) announces the availability of $494,047 in funding through this Solicitation of Interest (SOI) for the Home Visiting Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). This non-competitive procurement is for the term of May 1, 2023, to April 30, 2028. This is a new initiative supported by the federal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) grant.

The purpose of this solicitation is to identify one vendor in New York State who will initiate and administer the PAC to ensure high-quality home visiting systems by providing a parent voice (including the values, opinions, beliefs, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds of the clients enrolled in home visiting programs) on statewide and local initiatives and projects related to home visiting programs. This includes providing the parent voice on outreach materials, media campaigns, or continuous quality improvement projects.

Funding for this project is contingent on the availability of State funds and the number of eligible applicants that respond to the advertisement. Available funding to support this initiative will be limited to the amount(s) appropriate in the enacted State Fiscal Year budgets for this purpose. This advertisement is not a guarantee or promise of funding.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

All applicants must meet all of the following minimum eligibility requirements:

• Must be prequalified in the New York State Grants Gateway, if not exempt, on the date applications are due;
• Must be a not-for-profit academic, research, and/or educational/training organization; teaching hospital/medical center; or public/social policy organization;
• Must be able to provide services described in this Solicitation of Interest to all parts of New York State, including in-person and virtual/remote service delivery;

• In the past two years, collaborated with home visiting programs or other human/social service programs in New York State or another state or regional jurisdiction to support positive maternal and infant health, or family health outcomes;

• In the past two years, provided training on the effects of trauma on family health outcomes;

• In the past two years, conducted virtual meetings with pregnant and parenting individuals in New York State or another state or regional jurisdiction in support of parent leadership;
• Attest, that if awarded, will have capacity to pay stipends to PAC participants on a monthly basis, and reimburse PAC participants for costs incurred, as of January 1, 2023; and
• Attest, that if awarded, will have the internal capacity, or will seek services outside of the organization, for language translation and interpretation during virtual meetings and translation of written materials, as of January 1, 2023. It is expected that Spanish interpretation and translation will be needed for virtual PAC meetings and PAC members; the need for additional translation and interpretation including sign language, will be periodically assessed by the applicant and provided directly or through outside vendor.

Funding

Funding will support one (1) PAC contract for five (5) years, subject to the availability of funds. A total of $497,047 in funding is available ($99,409.40 annually) to support the PAC.

NYSDOH staff will review applications after the close of this Solicitation of Interest.

Eligible vendors must submit the completed application as documentation of any qualifying criteria by November 9, 2022, 4:00 PM. One (1) applicant that has met qualifying criteria will be notified of its projected award based on an approved methodology.