Funding Opportunity

Standard Grant Announcement: SVC

---

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities. For example, State, local or tribal governments; public or private universities and colleges; community- and faith-based organizations; and tribal organizations may apply. The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit organizations. The NOFA will indicate any limitations on eligibility.

2. COST SHARING

Cost sharing (see Glossary) is not required in this program, and applications will not be screened out on the basis of cost sharing. However, you may include cash or in-kind contributions (see Glossary) in your proposal as evidence of commitment to the proposed project.

3. OTHER

3.1 Additional Eligibility Requirements

Applications must comply with the following requirements, or they will be screened out and will not be reviewed: use of the PHS 5161-1 application; application submission requirements in Section IV-3 of this document; and formatting requirements provided in Section IV-2.3 of this document. Applicants should be aware that the NOFA may include additional requirements that, if not met, will result in applications being screened out and returned without review. These requirements will be specified in Section III-3 of the NOFA.

You also must comply with any additional program requirements specified in the NOFA, such as signature of certain officials on the face page of the application and/or required memoranda of understanding with certain signatories.

3.2 Evidence of Experience and Credentials

SAMHSA believes that only existing, experienced, and appropriately credentialed organizations with demonstrated infrastructure and expertise will be able to provide required services quickly and effectively. Therefore, in addition to the basic eligibility requirements specified in this announcement, applicants must meet three additional requirements related to the provision of treatment or prevention services.

The three requirements are:

• A provider organization for direct client services (e.g., substance abuse treatment, substance abuse prevention, mental health services) appropriate to the grant must be involved in each application. The provider may be the applicant or another organization committed to the project. More than one provider organization may be involved;

• Each direct service provider organization must have at least 2 years experience providing services in the geographic area(s) covered by the application, as of the due date of the application; and

• Each direct service provider organization must comply with all applicable local (city, county) and State/tribal licensing, accreditation, and certification requirements, as of the due date of the application.

[Note: The above requirements apply to all service provider organizations. A license from an individual clinician will not be accepted in lieu of a provider organization’s license.]

In Appendix 1 of the application, you must: (1) identify at least one experienced, licensed service provider organization; (2) include a list of all direct service provider organizations that have agreed to participate in the proposed project, including the applicant agency if the applicant is a treatment or prevention service provider organization; and (3) include the Statement of Assurance (provided in Appendix F of this announcement), signed by the authorized representative of the applicant organization identified on the face-page of the application, that all participating service provider organizations:

• meet the 2-year experience requirement
• meet applicable licensing, accreditation, and certification requirements, and,
• if the application is within the funding range, will provide the Government Project Officer (GPO) with the required documentation within the time specified.

In addition, if, following application review, an application’s score is within the fundable range for a grant award, the GPO will call the applicant and request that the following documentation be sent by overnight mail:

• a letter of commitment that specifies the nature of the participation and what service(s) will be provided from every service provider organization that has agreed to participate in the project;

• official documentation that all participating organizations have been providing relevant services for a minimum of 2 years before the date of the application in the area(s) in which the services are to be provided; and

• official documentation that all participating service provider organizations comply with all applicable local (city, county) and State/tribal requirements for licensing, accreditation, and certification or official documentation from the appropriate agency of the applicable State/tribal, county, or other governmental unit that licensing, accreditation, and certification requirements do not exist.

If the GPO does not receive this documentation within the time specified, the application will be removed from consideration for an award and the funds will be provided to another applicant meeting these requirements.