RFP# GC18-019: Questions and Answers
2018–2019 Child Abduction Prevention Education Program Grant
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Is there a way to highlight my company and services to interested school districts and BOCES? I am WBE certified, a previous superintendent of schools and Project Management Professional. I am eager to help them meet grant objectives and WBE goals.
Answer: A company providing services, including MWBE certified companies, are free to contact school districts and BOCES to highlight services they provide and offer districts and BOCES assistance in meeting grant objectives and goals. You may also reach out to the MWBE Grant Coordinator, MWBEgrants@nysed.gov, for more information on this process.
- If we want to develop our own curriculum, must we create and implement the new curriculum by August 31, 2019, or just have created it by that date?
Answer: August 31, 2019, is the close of the funding cycle for this RFP. Expenditures based on obligations made after August 31, 2019 cannot not be reimbursed. Awardees may develop or adopt a curriculum and provide training in its use during and throughout the funding cycle, but funding for activities completed after August 31, 2019 will not be reimbursed. Grantees are expected to implement the curriculum upon completion of its development and publish it on the applicant’s Web sites under Creative Commons license, to be freely shared with other districts.
- If we’ve received NYSED funds in the past, do we need to submit a Payee Information Form?
Answer: The Payee Information Form is only required for new applicants or if information has changed.
- Looking at the narrative questions on page 17 under “Program Activity Plan”: if we plan to purchase curriculum, we don’t need to answer the second bullet, correct? Or do you still expect us to put something on our website?
Answer: It is the expectation under this RFP that awardees post Professional Development resources, curriculum, online learning courses, or materials created with grant funds on the applicant’s Web sites under Creative Commons license, to be freely shared with other districts.
Awardees purchasing curriculum or associated resources should post materials to their Web pages to the extent allowable. There is no expectation that awardees violate any rules of copyright or purchase agreements in the acquisition and usage of proprietary resources. The applicant’s Program Activity Plan proposal, whether they are purchasing or creating the curriculum and related resources, should be fully discussed within their application under “Program Activity Plan” as described on page 17 of the RFP, and will be scored accordingly. Therefore, no, it is not correct that applicants planning on purchasing materials should not answer the second bullet on page 17 of the RFP – rather a detailed description of what materials are to be purchased and why they can or cannot be shared under Creative Commons license would be the stronger response in the application.
- On page 3 of the RFP, there is a mention of describing the “time-frame.” What does this refer to?
Answer: In describing the proposed program, applicants should be specific as possible in describing projected activity target dates, projected dates for Professional Development resources, target dates in curriculum, online learning courses, or materials created with grant funds, and target date frames for publication of resources on applicant’s Web site. All activities should occur within the funding cycle for this RFP.
- Is it acceptable for a district to use a purchased curriculum as the basis for the grant activities and then modify/enhance that curriculum to align with specific district needs?
Answer: Yes. So long as modification of a purchased curriculum is allowable under the purchase agreement, it is allowable within the scope of this RFP.
- Can the payee information form be submitted after grant awards are announced for the RFP?
Answer: Payee information, to the extent possible, should be submitted with the application.
- Can the proof of workers’ compensation coverage be submitted after grant awards are announces for the RFP?
Answer: Proof of workers’ compensation coverage, to the extent possible, should be submitted with the application.
- Can the proof of disability benefits coverage be submitted after grant awards are announced for the RFP?
Answer: Proof of disability benefits coverage, to the extent possible, should be submitted with the application.
- We would like to hand-deliver our application, as this saves on postage costs. What time on deadline day is the SED office open until?
Answer: Hand delivery, for reasons of streamlined grants management and processes through the Department that ensure applications are directed to responsible offices in the most efficient manner possible, is strongly not preferred by NYSED for this program. If an applicant must hand-deliver, the deadline is Friday, March 30, at 4 P.M. EDT.
- For hand-delivery of the application materials, can you provide the name or names of the appropriate contact person(s)? This information is required by the guard at the front entrance.
Answer: Hand delivery, for reasons of streamlined grants management and processes through the Department that ensure applications are directed to responsible offices in the most efficient manner possible, is strongly not preferred by NYSED for this program. If an applicant must hand-deliver, appropriate contact information can be supplied closer to the application due date by writing to and receiving a response from CAPE2018@NYSED.gov.
- For hand-delivery of the application materials, can you provide the phone number(s) for the appropriate contact person(s)? This information is required by the guard at the front entrance.
Answer: Hand delivery, for reasons of streamlined grants management and processes through the Department that ensure applications are directed to responsible offices in the most efficient manner possible, is strongly not preferred by NYSED for this program. If an applicant must hand-deliver, the phone number(s) of the appropriate contact persons can be supplied upon request of the applicant, closer to the application due date, by calling (518) 474-5461.