Local Project Grant for FY 02

[Guest guest]

This is the notice posted to the Texas Register December 29,2000

The Request for Proposals (RFP) will be available at the TDH Home

Page:

http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/ems/emshome.htm

The RFP will published on January 16, 2001 under " New Items "

If you need further assistance please contact either Al

(al.lewis@...) or Ed Loomis (ed.loomis@...)

at the following phone number

Texas Register Notice for FY 02 Local Projects Grants

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Notice of Request for Proposals for Emergency Medical Services Local

Projects Grant Program

PURPOSE : The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Local Projects Grant

(LPG) program was established in 1990 for the purpose of improving

EMS throughout Texas by providing money and technical assistance to

eligible organizations. This program is administered by the Bureau of

Emergency Management (bureau) of the Texas Department of Health

(department). The program provides reimbursement for approved cost

incurred for a specific project completed during a specified contract

period, September 1, 2001 - August 31, 2002.

DESCRIPTION : The department is accepting proposals for local EMS

projects to increase the availability and quality of emergency pre-

hospital health care. Applicable projects are those which upon

completion, will demonstrate a positive impact on the delivery of

emergency pre-hospital health care in the area implemented. Types of

projects acceptable for funding include: EMS certification training;

specialty training related to pre-hospital health management; EMS

equipment; computers for data collection; injury prevention projects;

continuing education programs; ambulances; and system development

programs.

Contracts will be developed between the department and successful

applicants for a specified period of time. The contracts will detail

items such as budget, reporting requirements, department general

provisions, and any other specifies that might apply to the award.

All registered, licensed, or certified organizations as determined by

the bureau (e.g. licensed EMS providers, registered first responder

organizations) must maintain the appropriate credentials throughout

the specified contract period. The grant provides reimbursement for

an approved project and associated cost deemed reasonable and

necessary and incurred after the award is made and during the stated

contract period only. Reimbursement may be withheld and a request for

return of funds may be necessary if any of the stated requirements of

this grant are not met. The Chief of the Bureau of Financial Services

or the department's designee, is the only individual who may legally

commit the department to expenditure of public funds. No cost

chargeable to the proposed contract may be reimbursed before receipt

of a fully executed contract. For EMS certification projects, proof

of successful certification must be submitted within 45 days

following the end of the contract period. In addition, it will be the

responsibility of the grant recipient to maintain a record of all

costs and activities related to the administration of the project.

Projects must start on or after September 1, 2001, and be completed

prior to August 31, 2002.

The average award in 2000-2001 was approximately $11,772 with a range

of $250 to $49,861. The maximum grant for a new ambulance will be

$35,000.

Matching funds may come from sources such as local funds, private

donations, other state grants, federal grants, or private

foundations. A soft, or in-kind, matching funds are not acceptable.

Matching funds will be required for the following:

Any individual equipment item with a useful life of more than one

year and a cost greater than $1,000 (including shipping costs)

requires 50% matching funds, with the following exceptions:

(1) Fax machines, stereo equipment, cameras, video recorders/players,

computers, software and printers. These items require a 50% match if

the individual cost exceeds $500 and the useful life is greater than

one year.

(2) Medical laboratory equipment (defined as microscopes,

oscilloscopes, centrifuges, balances, and incubators) will require a

50% match if the unit cost exceeds $500.

The maximum grant for a new ambulance will be $35,000. The maximum

grant for a computer will be $1,500. The maximum total for this grant

will be $50,000 per organization represented.

Any project that involves advanced life support (ALS) will require

the signature of a medical director on the application page. Advanced

life support projects include, but are not limited to, items such as

the purchase of monitor/defibrillator/pacer units, automated external

defibrillators, and ALS training.

Any project that involves hosting of an initial certification course

or continuing education course will require prior discussion of the

potential course with EMS staff at the local public health region

(PHR) office. On-site training requests must indicate the distance to

the nearest training facility.

Any project involving the purchase of computers and computer related

items, including accessories and software, must be thoroughly

described within the proposal. An appropriate description would

be " 300 MHz Pentium Processor, 64 MG RAM, 6.0 GB hard drive, 56K

modem, 24X CD ROM. " Also, a similar description of make and model for

the printer, monitor, and any software is essential.

The program only provides reimbursement for approved costs associated

with the implementation of the approved project. Projects will be

funded until funds have been exhausted or preset limits reached.

Examples of costs that are not applicable for funding include items

such as salaries, fringe benefits, indirect costs, disposable

supplies, and day-to-day operating expenses (e.g. fuel, insurance,

loan payments, rent, etc.). Land purchases or building funds do not

qualify as applicable projects under this program.

Should a project not be completed or the full allocation of funding

not be used, the department may redistribute funds at its discretion.

The department reserves the right to fund projects at any level

considered appropriate, according to the availability of funds and

justification for need. Any costs incurred prior to the contract

start date (September 1, 2001) will not be eligible for

reimbursement.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS : Proposals will be accepted from approved EMS

organizations responsible for providing prehospital emergency care.

Organizations must be in good standing with no disciplinary actions

other than administrative penalties (not to exceed $1,000 total), for

a two-year period immediately preceding submission of the LPG

request. Organizations that have had actions taken against them by

the department may be ineligible for funding. Applicants should

contact the appropriate PHR for more information. These organizations

include:

(1) licensed EMS providers providing 911 service;

(2) registered first responder organizations. Registered first

responder organizations have the proper Bureau first responder

paperwork, based on 25 Texas Administrative Code, §157.21 First

Responder Organization Registry, entered into the department's

network as active no later than deadline date of this application;

and

(3) other approved EMS organizations

Failure to comply with these requirements of the grant constitutes

grounds for revocation of any award made as part of the Local

Projects Grant Program.

CONTACT : Information concerning the Request for Proposals (RFP) may

be obtained from Al , Local Project Grants Program, Bureau of

Emergency Management, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th

Street, Austin Texas 78756, Telephone ext. 2376, Fax

or email (al.lewis@...)

LIMITATIONS : The department reserves the right to reject any or all

applications and is not liable for costs incurred by the applicant in

the development, submission, or review of the application. Costs

incurred in the preparation of the application shall be borne by the

applicant and are not allowable in the RFP.

The department reserves the right to alter, amend, or modify any

provisions of this RFP, or to withdraw this RFP, at any time prior to

the award of a contract pursuant thereto, if in the best interest of

the department or the State of Texas to do so. The decision of the

department will be administratively final in this regard.

DEADLINE : The deadline for submitting the application, original

proposal, applicable forms, plus three copies of each will be

midnight, April 13, 2001. Only those original proposals and copies,

which are postmarked or received by midnight on or before April 13,

2001 will be reviewed regardless of the circumstances. Applications

may be mailed or hand delivered. If delivered by hand, the proposal

must be taken to the Exchange Building, Bureau of Emergency, 8407

Wall Street, Suite S220, Austin, Texas Management (by close of

business 5:00 P.M. on April 13, 2000).

The original and one copy of the completed application, applicable

forms, and proposal should be submitted to C. Perkins, Chief,

Attention: Local Projects Grant Program, Bureau of Emergency

Management, Texas Department of Health, 1100 West 49th Street,

Austin, Texas 78756-3199. Two copies of the completed application,

applicable forms, and proposal must also be submitted to your

regional office of the department.

EVALUATION AND SELECTION : Proposals will be reviewed and evaluated

based on information provided by the applicant. Eligibility criteria

includes:

(1) evaluation of all information in the application;

(2) applicant's local project grants funding history;

(3) the applicant's numerical local project grants application score;

and

(4) the history of disciplinary actions other than administrative

penalties.

Proposals will be reviewed to ensure all budget items requested are

applicable and appropriate, that matching funds are available and

that implementation of the proposed project is possible. Tentative

approval will be given by the Chief of the Bureau of Emergency

Management and the Associate Commissioner for Health Care Quality and

Standards. Final approval will be given by the Commissioner of Health

or the Commissioner's appointed agent. All projects not funded will

remain active until the end of the funding cycle for consideration in

the event funding becomes available.

The department strongly supports the concept of cooperative

applications between multiple providers and/or registered first

responder programs, and applications that clearly demonstrate and

document regional projects involving multiple service organizations.

In the event of a cooperative application between multiple entities

being submitted, an itemized proposal must be provided to clearly

identify equipment/training allocation. Though not a prerequisite for

this grant, the department encourages all applicants to pursue such

cooperative agreements. Additionally, preference will be given to

proposals that are most economical (i.e. refurbished ambulances will

be given preference over new ambulances). For additional information

contact the EMS Local Projects Grant Program, 1100 West 49th Street,

Austin, Texas 78756, extension 2329.

TRD-200008822

K. Steeg

General Counsel

Texas Department of Health

Filed: December 19, 2000