RFA A424 PREPare for Success

RFA A424 PREPare for Success is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). This is a Request for Applications for the PREPare for Success program.

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1-10-2025 Page 1 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 # Request for Applications FUNDING AGENCY: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section/Reproductive Health Branch ISSUE DATE: September 24, 2025 DEADLINE DATE: October 30, 2025 INQUIRIES and DELIVERY INFORMATION: Direct inquiries concerning this RFA to: Nancy Warren, nancy. warren@dhhs. nc.

gov Deja Garlin, deja. garlin@dhhs. nc.

gov Kylia Ahuna, kylia. ahuna@dhhs. nc.

gov Applications will be received until 5:00pm on October 30, 2025. Electronic copies of the application are available at https://teenpregnancy. dph.

ncdhhs. gov/funding. htm Send all applications electronically as indicated below: Email Address: tppi-rfa@dhhs.

nc. gov IMPORTANT NOTE: Indicate agency/organization name and RFA number in the subject line of the email, along with the RFA deadline date. N.

C. Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 2 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 Request for Applications -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 RFA Table of Contents---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 I.

INTRODUCTION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 ELIGIBILITY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 FUNDING ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 II. BACKGROUND --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 III.

SCOPE OF SERVICES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS ------------------------ 13 1. Award or Rejection --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 2.

Cost of Application Preparation ------------------------------------------------------------- 13 3. Elaborate Applications ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 4. Oral Explanations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 5.

Reference to Other Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 6. Titles -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 7. Form of Application -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 8.

Exceptions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 9. Advertising ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 10. Right to Submitted Material ----------------------------------------------------------------- 13 11.

Competitive Offer ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 12. Agency and Organization's Representative ------------------------------------------------ 14 13. Subcontracting --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 14.

Proprietary Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 15. Participation Encouraged --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 16. Contract ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 V.

APPLICATION PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND APPLICATION REVIEW --------- 14 1. Announcement of the Request for Applications (RFA) --------------------------------- 14 2. Distribution of the RFA ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 3.

Bidder’s Conference / Teleconference / Question & Answer Period ------------------ 15 4. Optional Notice of Intent --------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 5. Applications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 6.

Format ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 7. Space Allowance ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15 8. Application Deadline ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 9.

Review of Applications----------------------------------------------------------------------- 15 10. Request for Additional Information -------------------------------------------------------- 16 11. Audit -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 12.

Assurances-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 13. Additional Documentation to Include with Application --------------------------------- 16 14. Federal Certifications ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 15.

Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) -------------------------------------------------------------- 17 16. Additional Documentation Prior to Contract Execution --------------------------------- 17 17. Registration with NC Secretary of State --------------------------------------------------- 17 18.

Registration in NC e-Procurement via NC Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) --------- 18 19. Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Data Reporting Requirement ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 20. Sudan Divestment Act ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 18 N.

C. Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 3 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 21.

Iran Divestment Act --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 22. Boycott Israel Divestment Policy ----------------------------------------------------------- 18 23. Application Process Summary Dates ------------------------------------------------------- 18 VI.

PROJECT BUDGET --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19 VII. EVALUATION CRITERIA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 22 VIII. APPLICATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Application Checklist ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 23 1.

Cover Letter ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24 2. Application Face Sheet ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 26 3. Applicant’s Response ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 4.

Project Budget --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34 5. Indirect Cost Rate Approval Letter --------------------------------------------------------- 35 This item is not required for Applicants who are declining the use of an indirect cost rate or a de-minis rate in their proposed budget. --------------------------------------------------------- 35 6.

SubContractor/SubGrantee Information --------------------------------------------------- 36 7. Attachment A ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37 8. Attachment B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38 9.

IRS Letter --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39 10.

Verification of 501(c)(3) Status Form ------------------------------------------------------ 40 Appendix A Forms for Reference ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 41 FEDERAL CERTIFICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------- 42 CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ------------------------------------------------------------ 51 Conflict of Interest Policy Example --------------------------------------------------------------- 52 NO OVERDUE TAX DEBTS CERTIFICATION --------------------------------------------- 54 CONTRACTOR CERTIFICATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------ 55 FFATA Form ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 57 Confirmation of Registration and Login NC Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) and eProcurement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 58 N.

C. Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 4 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is designed to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), and adulthood preparation subjects.

With reproductive health education programs, youth development, and parent involvement, adolescents will have the information and skills needed to make healthy decisions about reproductive health. PREP is administered by Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives (TPPI) of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section, Reproductive Health Branch.

Public or private non-profit agencies (e.g., schools, colleges/universities, local health departments, non-profit community-based organizations) may receive funding to replicate at least one (1) evidence-based program model through this Request for Applications (RFA). For-profit agencies need not apply.

If the applicant agency currently receives Primary Prevention funding for teen pregnancy prevention through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the agency may not apply to implement an additional primary pregnancy prevention program in the same county they currently serve but may propose a new program in a different county.

Applications will only be accepted from counties ranking in the top 50 for birth rates among females aged 15 to 19 based on a five-year average between 2019-2023.

The counties are as follows: Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Caldwell, Caswell, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cleveland, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Graham, Greene, Halifax, Hoke, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Macon, Martin, McDowell, Mitchell, Nash, Northampton, Onslow, Perquimans, Person, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Sampson, Scotland, Surry, Swain, Vance, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin, Yancey.

Potential applicants should consider their community’s readiness to support teen pregnancy prevention efforts, and their agency’s organizational capacity to administer the state grant funds if awarded. Recipients of state funds are expected to have established in writing certain general agency policies including personnel and financial accounting policies.

Applicants that have not previously received or successfully administered state funds should consult a PREP staff member to determine if their agency has the internal policies and procedures in place to administer a state grant at this time. Funds to grantees will be dispersed on a cost reimbursement basis only, and agencies should carefully consider if they have the capacity to implement the program under this system.

The total available funding is $765,000 per funding period (June 1 – May 31 of each year). The funding agency looks to issue one or more grant awards, based on the quality of applications received. Each grant award may be up to $110,000.

Applicants will be selected for funding for a one-year period with the option to extend for two (2) additional years only if additional funding becomes available. The initial contract will begin June 1, 2026.

The project funding periods, and average awards will be distributed as follows: June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027: award up to $110,000 June 1, 2027 – May 31, 2028: award $0 at this time June 1, 2028 – May 31, 2029: award $0 at this time N. C. Division of Public Health v.

1-10-2025 Page 5 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 This project will be funded 100% by Federal funds through award from HRSA Personal Responsibility Education Program funds.

As a requirement to receive these federal pass-through funds, Applicant as well as all subgrantees of the Applicant must certify the following whenever applying for funds, requesting payment, and submitting “I certify to the best of my knowledge and belief that the information provided herein is true, complete, and accurate.

I am aware that the provision of false, fictitious, or fraudulent information, or the omission of any material fact, may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative consequences including, but not limited to violations of U.S. Code Title 18, Sections 2, 1001, 1343 and Title 31, Sections 3729-3730 and 3801-3812. ” N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 6 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 PREP is federally funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Family and Youth Services Bureau. Since 2010, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received funding to implement PREP within select local sites throughout the state.

1 In North Carolina the PREP initiative is called PREPare for Success. The purpose of PREP is to educate young people on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy, STIs, and HIV.

Programs that serve youth ages 10-19 are within the scope of PREP, with priority given to programs that serve youth in or aging out of foster care, homeless youth, youth with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, pregnant and/or parenting youth who are under age 21, and youth who live in geographic areas with high teen birth rates.

PREP projects replicate effective, evidence-based or evidence-informed program models that have shown to delay sexual activity, increase condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, and/or reduce pregnancy among youth.

In addition, PREP projects also offer education on human trafficking, and services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address three (3) or more of the following adulthood preparation subjects: • Adolescent Development, • Education and Career Success, • Healthy Relationships, and • Parent-Child Communication.

The federal legislative authority for this program is Section 2953 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-148, which adds a new Section 513 to Title V of the Social Security Act, to be codified at 42 U.S.C.

§ 713, authorizing the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP). By accepting award(s) for this program, the recipient agrees to comply with the requirements included in both the General and Supplemental Terms and Conditions for this program. Effective August 7, 2025, recipients are prohibited from including gender ideology in any program or service that is funded with this award.

Family and Youth Services Bureau. (2020). Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Fact Sheet.

Retrieved from: https://acf. gov/sites/default/files/documents/fysb/fysb_app_stateprep_factsheet_oc_2020_508. pdf N.

C. Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 7 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 The main goal of PREPare for Success is to reduce the rate of teen pregnancy in North Carolina by providing essential reproductive health education, including abstinence and risk reduction.

PREP requires implementation of an evidence-based or evidence-informed program model, specifically FLASH; Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs); and/or the Teen Outreach Program® (TOP). The program utilizes best practices to support adulthood preparation, awareness/prevention of human trafficking, and parent/guardian involvement.

Applicants are required to establish a Community Advisory Council (CAC) that equally represents community agencies and youth served by the program and a Youth Leadership Council (YLC) consisting of youth program participants. Agencies must agree to implement selected program model(s) to age/grade-appropriate groups in their service area, serving youth between the ages of 10 and 19.

Agencies selected through this RFA will be required to implement the program model(s) with fidelity; any adaptations or modifications must be approved in advance by the Funding Agency. In addition, applicants are mandated to provide reproductive health education, and medically accurate information about all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, including abstinence, to all participants.

Applicants must provide services to participants every year of the grant cycle.

SECTION 1: COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION To reduce the rates of teen pregnancy in their communities, applicants must: 1) understand the factors that influence adolescents’ decisions about sex; 2) determine which factors can be impacted by teen pregnancy prevention programming; and 3) assess which of the factors are most relevant for the population they intend to serve.

All applicants must convincingly demonstrate their understanding of the proposed implementation context and describe and document the need for services in a specific setting or with a defined group of adolescents within the county(s). Appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative data should be provided to support the statement of need as related to the goals of PREP.

Applicants must consider the needs of all youth in the proposed community, and how their programs will meet those needs. Applicants must describe the specific adolescent population to be served. Funded projects will serve youth ages 10 to 19 who reside in the counties referenced on page four (4) of this RFA.

This should include a description of the community of which youth are a part, how many proposed youths will be served, in what setting youth will be served, what community resources are available to youth, what unmet needs exist, and why the chosen youth were selected. Please note that it is not sufficient to either: a) simply name your town or county as your community; or b) state that the potential participants are at “high risk.

” Sources for data and statistics provided in the community description should be cited. Publicly available data can be accessed from these sources: • North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (SCHS): https://schs. dph.

ncdhhs. gov/ o 2025 SCHS County Health Data Book https://schs. dph.

ncdhhs. gov/data/databook/ N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 8 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 • North Carolina Maternal and Infant Health Data Dashboard: https://www. dph.

ncdhhs. gov/programs/title-v-maternal-and-child-health-block-grant/nc-maternal- and-infant-health-data-dashboard Applicants must describe their proposed approach to completing program requirements, including activities for start-up, implementation, and monitoring, to achieve Year One (1) deliverables listed below. Refer to VIII.

3 Applicant’s Response for specifics.

Year One (1) deliverables: • Community Needs and Resource Assessment • Implementation plan that includes training in and facilitation of chosen sexual health curriculum model and Adulthood Preparation Subjects • Establish and maintain a Community Advisory Council (CAC) • Establish and maintain a Youth Leadership Council (YLC) • Program monitoring plan, including program fidelity monitoring, progress reporting, and required performance measures such as PREP Entry and Exit Surveys Choosing a Program Model & Supplemental Activities Applicants must propose implementation of a teen pregnancy prevention program model from the approved list of fundable pregnancy prevention program models.

The three (3) evidence-based/informed program models approved for replication under this RFA are the 3Rs, FLASH curriculum, and TOP . Additional information about the approved program models can be viewed at: • 3Rs - https://www. 3rs.

org/download-3rs/ • FLASH curriculum - https://kingcounty. gov/depts/health/locations/family- planning/education/FLASH. aspx • TOP - https://wymancenter.

org/top/ Within the first six (6) months of Year One (1), funded sites must select a teen pregnancy prevention program model from the list of fundable pregnancy prevention curricula, train staff, and initiate implementation of the chosen program model with fidelity. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of how a reproductive health program will effectively address the needs of the population to be served.

By applying for funds, Applicants acknowledge that they are mandated to provide reproductive health education including complete and medically accurate information about all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, including abstinence, to all participants.

The term “complete and medically accurate” means verified or supported by the weight of research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals where applicable or comprising information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete.

Adulthood Preparation Subjects In addition to education on abstinence and contraceptive use, PREP provides services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address adulthood preparation subjects. Adulthood preparation subjects expand content and activities of approved evidence-based program models and N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 9 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 provide opportunities to emphasize additional skill-building with a positive youth development approach.

The federal program mandates to states that grantees and subgrantees of PREP must incorporate at least three (3) of the six (6) PREP adulthood preparation subjects into programming: • Education and Career Success • Parent-Child Communication The three (3) evidence-based/informed program models approved for replication under this RFA have been proven to address some adulthood preparation subjects as designed by their developer.

See the chart below. > Education and Career Success > Parent-Child Communication In addition to implementing their chosen program model, applicants are required to propose strategies to address at least one (1) additional adulthood preparation subject that is not covered by their chosen program model(s).

It is expected that all youth participating in an evidence-based/informed program will also complete activities that support adulthood preparation. Applicants are encouraged to partner with their CAC and other community partners to coordinate activities to support adulthood preparation.

For more information about Adulthood Preparation Subjects visit The Exchange –Adulthood Preparation Subjects Resource Guide available at https://teenpregnancy. acf. hhs.

gov/resources/adulthood-preparation-subjects-resource-guide-0 . Applicants are required to create, establish, and maintain a YLC that consists of adolescents aged 10 to 19 from their PREP program. The purpose of the YLC is to promote leadership and service among youth to organize programs and projects to enhance their communities and the well-being of other youth in their communities.

The YLC shall consist of at least five (5) and up to 15 youth ages of 10 and 19. YLC members must reflect the community being served. Successful proposals will include plans to convene nine (9) monthly YLC meetings between September 30, 2026, and May 31, 2027.

Members from the YLC will develop one (1) annual project (topic to be chosen by the YLC) to be completed by May 31st of the fiscal year. Projects may include developing a media campaign, creating a youth friendly services toolkit, or providing peer education, etc. An example of a previous YLC-led N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 10 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 project can be found here: https://www. facebook.

com/100057181880717/posts/tcs-health-fair-may- 9th/1199701175279267/ . This example is meant to serve illustrative purposes only; applicants may propose a different type of project, to be determined after the award. Members of the YLC will attend a PREP-sponsored three (3) day YLC retreat during the summer in Raleigh, NC each year.

YLC members and up to two (2) site program coordinators will attend this overnight retreat to increase their knowledge on leadership, building relationships with peers, identifying solutions to community issues, and gain facilitation skills to enhance personal projects. Applicants should include funding for this retreat in the proposed budget. YLC members shall receive a stipend or gift card for their time served on the YLC.

The proposed budget should include funding for these payments. Parent/guardian involvement and improving adolescent/parent communication is a protective factor in preventing risky behaviors among youth, including pregnancy, and transmission of STIs, including HIV.

Parent/guardian involvement is also vital to the success of any PREP-funded project in ensuring parents/ guardians fully understand and support the activities their youth are involved in. This will ensure parents/guardians hold youth accountable and provide support for youth to attend a variety of program activities.

As a requirement of the program, successful proposals will include plans to implement at least one (1) strategy to involve parents/guardians in program activities, for each implementation setting. PREP projects must also provide education and information on the prevention of human trafficking.

An illustrative lesson plan, developed by Advocates for Youth through the Rights, Respect, Responsibility (3Rs) North Carolina curriculum , is available for reference in applications. Applicants should consider whether their agency has the capacity to administer the grant funds if awarded.

Applicants should also consider whether they have the capacity to serve youth with all components of the program (sexuality education curriculum, human trafficking lesson, adulthood preparation subject(s), CAC, youth involvement and parent engagement activities).

Successful proposals will demonstrate capacity through discussion of past performance in administering state-issued or other grant funds and/or implementing large-scale youth-serving projects. Use of Volunteers and Interns Volunteers and interns are valuable to the success of programming in many local government, community-based, non-profit agencies.

Should the use of volunteers or interns be considered to support program implementation, applicants must describe their process for recruiting/hiring, training, and managing them. Applicants must understand that if interns or volunteers assist with programming, they must also complete training in the reproductive health program model(s) to assist program staff or direct service to program participants.

Applicants proposing the use of volunteers under this RFA should be included in the staffing chart, and include a copy of the job description in Attachment B. Program staff will be required to complete evidence-based or evidence-informed program training for FLASH, 3Rs, or the Teen Outreach Program® as well as training in the following areas during the first N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 11 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 six (6) months of the first year of the grant cycle: orientation to and history of teen pregnancy prevention programs, youth leadership, facilitation skills, reproductive health, youth development, and parent engagement.

Program staff and supervisors should budget and plan to attend training two (2) days per month from July - November of 2026 in the Raleigh, NC area. New staff that join the agency’s PREP program after the first six (6) months must obtain training in these areas before facilitating the PREP program.

All funded agencies will be required to participate in at least 20 hours of professional development, and an additional four (4) hours focused on social determinants of health, annually per full-time position (1 FTE), per year on the grant.

Applicants should reference plans to attend trainings in their program narrative and allocate funding (i.e., lodging, meals, mileage) in their budget narratives to attend these, and other proposed trainings, conferences, and other professional development opportunities. It is very important that the program supervisor and staff are appropriately trained to facilitate and implement the program.

Evidence-based curriculum training usually occurs over two (2) to three (3) days. At least two (2) program staff must be trained to facilitate this program model, and one (1) program supervisor must be trained to observe program staff and provide on-site guidance and technical support.

Applicants should indicate any experience that the program staff have with this program model and any training that they have received or plan to receive if awarded funding.

SECTION 3: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Advisory Council Applicants are required to establish a CAC that consists of members representing at least five (5) community agencies other than the funded agency, at least one (1) parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a teen, and at least two (2) adolescents from the YLC.

Organizations (at least 5) Individuals Required • Organizations involved in implementation, such as hosting or recruitment • At least two (2) participants must be adolescents from YLC • Parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a teen • Local health department • Institutions of Higher Education • Department of Social Services • Local corporations and businesses • Juvenile Justice Centers • Social and cultural organizations • Other local agencies that serve youth • Former individual program participants (if applicable) • additional community member(s) (chosen at the agency’s discretion) N.

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1-10-2025 Page 12 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 The CAC shall be responsible for advising and assisting program staff to provide high quality services to participants, identifying programming to support sexuality education and adulthood preparation, reviewing all educational and promotional materials developed by the program to ensure appropriateness for the community, supporting and guiding adolescents on the topic selection of the YLC with the special project, and actively promoting and supporting the program in the community.

The adolescent CAC members shall create and direct the CAC’s overall goals with the support of the adult CAC members. This shall include developing a community health initiative (service project) that meets youth-defined needs. Community mobilization is essential for launching a community-wide approach to addressing the issue of teen pregnancy.

Engaging a strategic cadre of partners enables the community to combine resources and networks to disseminate information and facilitate communication throughout the area. Each PREP program will establish a CAC comprised of members of the community and YLC members.

Funded sites will provide training on coordinating adolescent engagement, positive youth development, youth-adult partnerships, recruitment, and retention to the CAC during the first six (6) months of Year One (1). The CAC shall convene quarterly, and meeting minutes shall be taken to account for the work of the CAC. Meeting minutes should include the names of individuals and organizations represented.

Minutes should document the role of the CAC in advising, assisting the program, and developing a health initiative. Educational and promotional materials review should be documented in the meeting minutes and include name and purpose of the materials and the CAC recommendations regarding the use of such materials.

Adolescent CAC members and community members not associated with an agency shall receive a stipend or gift card for their time served on the CAC. The proposed budget should include funding for these payments. Community Commitment to Collaboration Applicants are expected to collaborate with other agencies to assist with implementing PREP.

Applications must include a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from each implementation site. Applicants partnering with an outside agency to gain access to program participants (such as a local health department implementing programming with their local school system) must also include in their MOU a description of the partner agencies’ protocol and procedures in planning to work with their youth.

Each MOU should be unique and specify what the individual or agency will contribute to the program. The MOUs should be on the agency letterhead and signed by the appropriate person (someone authorized to make the commitment or support). All MOUs should be placed in Attachment A.

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1-10-2025 Page 13 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS All qualified applications will be evaluated and award made to that agency or organization whose combination of budget and service capabilities are deemed to be in the best interest of the funding agency. The funding agency reserves the unqualified right to reject any or all offers if determined to be in its best interest.

Successful applicants will be notified by November 24, 2025. 2. Cost of Application Preparation Any cost incurred by an agency or organization in preparing or submitting an application is the agency's or organization's sole responsibility; the funding agency will not reimburse any agency or organization for any pre-award costs incurred.

3. Elaborate Applications Elaborate applications in the form of brochures or other presentations beyond that necessary to present a complete and effective application are not desired. The funding agency will not be bound by oral explanations or instructions given at any time during the competitive process or after awarding the grant.

5. Reference to Other Data Only information that is received in response to this RFA will be evaluated; reference to information previously submitted will not suffice. Titles and headings in this RFA and any subsequent RFA are for convenience only and shall have no binding force or effect.

Each application must be submitted on the form provided by the funding agency and will be incorporated into the funding agency's Performance Agreement (contract). All applications are subject to the terms and conditions outlined herein. All responses will be controlled by such terms and conditions.

The attachment of other terms and conditions by any agency or organization may be grounds for rejection of that agency or organization's application. Funded agencies and organizations specifically agree to the conditions set forth in the Performance Agreement (contract).

In submitting its application, agencies and organizations agree not to use the results therefrom or as part of any news release or commercial advertising without prior written approval of the funding agency. 10.

Right to Submitted Material All responses, inquiries, or correspondence relating to or in reference to the RFA, and all other reports, charts, displays, schedules, exhibits, and other documentation submitted by the agency or organization will become the property of the funding agency when received. N. C.

Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 14 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 Pursuant to the provision of G. S.

143-54, and under penalty of perjury, the signer of any application submitted in response to this RFA thereby certifies that this application has not been arrived at collusively or otherwise in violation of either Federal or North Carolina antitrust laws. 12.

Agency and Organization's Representative Each agency or organization shall submit with its application the name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) with authority to bind the agency or organization and answer questions or provide clarification concerning the application.

Agencies and organizations may propose to subcontract portions of work provided that their applications clearly indicate the scope of the work to be subcontracted, and to whom. All requirements, terms, and conditions of a contract shall be passed through to all organizations performing programmatic work on behalf of the agency as the agency’s subawardee.

Documentation of each proposed subcontractor or subgrantee shall be submitted as part of the application. Agencies and organizations shall also ensure that subcontractors are not on the state’s Suspension of Funding List available at: https://www. osbm.

nc. gov/stewardship-services/grants- management/suspension-funding-list 14. Proprietary Information Trade secrets or similar proprietary data which the agency or organization does not wish disclosed to other than personnel involved in the evaluation will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by NCAC TO1: 05B.

1501 and G. S. 132-1.

3 if identified as follows: Each page shall be identified in boldface at the top and bottom as “CONFIDENTIAL. ” Any section of the application that is to remain confidential shall also be so marked in boldface on the title page of that section. 15.

Participation Encouraged Pursuant to Article 3 and 3C, Chapter 143 of the North Carolina General Statutes and Executive Order No. 77, the funding agency invites and encourages participation in this RFA by businesses owned by minorities, women and the disabled, including utilization as subcontractor(s) to perform functions under this Request for Applications.

The Division will issue a contract to the recipient of the RFA funding (“Grantee”). Expenditures can begin immediately upon receipt of a completely signed contract. V.

APPLICATION PROCUREMENT PROCESS AND APPLICATION REVIEW The following is a general description of the process by which applicants will be selected for funding for this project. 1. Announcement of the Request for Applications (RFA) The announcement of the RFA and instructions for receiving the RFA will be posted on: N.

C. Division of Public Health v. 1-10-2025 Page 15 of 59 RFA # A424 09/24/2025 http://www.

ncdhhs. gov/about/grant-opportunities/public-health-grant-opportunities . The announcement may also be sent to prospective agencies and organizations via direct mail, email, and/or the Program’s website.

2. Distribution of the RFA RFAs will be posted on the TPPI website ( https://teenpregnancy. dph.

ncdhhs. gov/funding. htm ) and may be sent via email to interested agencies and organizations.

3. Bidder’s Conference / Teleconference / Question & Answer Period All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a Bidder's Conference on October 2, 2025 from 10:00am to 12:00pm on Zoom: Bidders Conference Zoom Link . Written questions concerning the specifications in this