COVID-19 Public Health Workforce Grant for Utah Community Based Organizations

To establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce within Community Based Organizations to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives

Funding Cycle:
July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023

Release Date:
November 1, 2021

Due Date:
5:00 P.M. MST
December 15, 2021

Only online applications will be accepted

Applications will be received by Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness

Applications will be received by Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness
Street address: 288 North 1460 West 4th floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Mailing address: P.O. Box 142004, Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Email: karolinaa@utah.gov | Website: www.bemsp.utah.gov

Apply Here

Executive Summary

Funding SourceCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
CDC Crisis Response Cooperative Agreement: COVID-19 Public Health Workforce
https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/readiness/funding-ph.htm 
AdministratorUtah Department of Health (UDOH) 
Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (BEMSP)
Jenny Starley, Crisis Workforce Program Manager, jstarley@utah.gov 
Karolina Abuzyarova, Covid-19 Grants Coordinator, karolinaa@utah.gov
TypeGrant Application
Grant ProgramPublic Health Community Based Organizations Grant
Funding Number: 1577-PHW22-PREP-CBO1
Funding Opportunity URL: https://coronavirus.utah.gov/covid-19-public-health-workforce-grant-for-utah-community-based-organizations/
Application URL: https://forms.gle/jVDqEqgHy9yF9Zm37
TimelineGrant Open: November 1, 2021
Grant Close: 5:00 P.M. MST, December 15, 2021
Contracts Close: June 30, 2023
Funding AmountOverall total funding: $500,000
Total funding per awardee: up to $30,000
Number of AwardsBetween 15-25
Performance Period TBD – 6/30/23
PurposeTo establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce within community based organizations to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
EligibilityUtah non-profit community based organizations (CBOs) with demonstrated expertise in implementing public health programs and established relationships with state, tribal, local, and territorial public health departments, particularly in medically underserved areas.
Selection CommitteeBEMPS, Utah Office of Health Disparities, Local Health Department Emergency Response Coordinators, Community Public Health Representative.
Target PopulationPopulations proven to be medically underserved within the state of Utah.
Target AreaAll counties within the state of Utah, selection will be based within criteria listed in the Award Amount section. 
Service ScopeAwardees are expected to recruit, hire, and train personnel to address projected jurisdictional COVID-19 response needs over the performance period, including hiring personnel to build capacity to address public health priorities.
Expected deliverables• Monthly reimbursements of eligible expenses
• Biannual spend plan reports (every six months)
• Biannual progress reports (every six months)
• Closeout report (within 30 days of contract closing)
Allowable costs • The costs, including wages and benefits, related to recruiting, hiring, and training of individuals to serve as: professional or clinical staff, disease investigation staff, program staff, administrative staff and other positions as may be required to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID–19. 
• Purchase of equipment and supplies necessary to support the expanded workforce including personal protective equipment, equipment needed to perform the duties of the position, computers, cell phones, internet costs, cybersecurity software, and other costs associated with support of the expanded workforce.
• Administrative support services necessary to implement activities funded under this section, including travel and training.
RestrictionsFunds must not be used for research, publicity and propaganda (lobbying). Individual clinical treatment is not allowed. However, activities such as contact tracing, vaccination, and screening tests are components of a public health campaign and are not considered clinical care within CDC definitions. Funds must not be used for duplicative or supplanting existing state or federal funding resources. This grant opportunity is reimbursement for funds incurred only.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion RequirementApplicants must address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities in hiring and training new and existing employees. Examples of DEI measures include: number of hires with descriptions of the populations they serve, number of new and existing employees receiving DEI relevant training, health equity team to focus on hiring a workforce that represents the diversity in the communities.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Grand Objective

The Community Based Organization COVID-19 Public Health Workforce Development Grant will establish, expand, train, and sustain the state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health workforce to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.  

B. Program Priorities

Awardees must use available funding to recruit, hire, and train personnel to address projected jurisdictional COVID-19 response needs over the performance period, including hiring personnel to build capacity to address public health priorities deriving from COVID-19. 

Funding may be used to hire personnel for roles that may range from senior leadership positions to early career or entry-level positions and may include: permanent full-time and part-time staff, temporary or term-limited staff, fellows, interns, and contractors. Applicants may use CDC’s Social Vulnerability Index data and tools to inform jurisdiction COVID-19 planning, response, and hiring strategies.

C. Program Authority

Authority for the Community Based Organization COVID-19 Public Health Workforce Development Grant is provided by the Crisis Response Cooperative Agreement: COVID-19 Public Health Workforce cooperative agreement awarded by the CDC to the Utah Department of Health.  

II. Award Information

A. Funding Availability

The total amount available for this grant is $500,000. Individual grant awards will be made in the amounts of up to a maximum of $30,000.

B. Project/Award Period

Applications are due 30 calendar days after the contract is announced. Start date for awardees will be no earlier than November 1, 2021. Awarded funds shall be spent during the project period, ending June 30, 2023. 

C. Type of Funding Instrument

 The funding shall be distributed in the form of a grant to the individual applicant. 

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are Utah not-profit community based organizations (CBOs) with demonstrated expertise in implementing public health programs and established relationships with state, tribal, local, or territorial (STLT) public health departments, particularly in medically underserved areas.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Cost sharing or matching is not required for this grant.

C. Other Criteria that Affect Eligibility

Each application must address the elements listed under section IV, Application and Submission Information. Applicants who fail to provide complete information will not be considered. In addition, the CDC requires sub-awardees to provide specific details including:

  1. Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
    Applicants must address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities in hiring, training and with existing employees. Consider collaboration with local champions or trusted voices representative of diverse populations affected by COVID-19. DEI metrics include:
    • Number of people to be hired, including brief descriptions of the populations they serve. i.e. communities of color, rural populations, people experiencing homelessness, people living with disabilities, etc.
    • Number of new and existing employees receiving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) relevant training i.e. cultural competency, working with underserved communities, health equity etc. 
    • An establishment of a health equity team to focus on hiring a workforce that represents the diversity in the communities being served. 
  2. Additional Funding Sources
    Applicants must provide a detailed description of what other funding sources currently received or applied for and pending that meet the same objective of this grant. This information will be considered by the Selection Committee when making awards.
  3. Community Health Worker (CHW) minimum hourly rate requirement
    Applicants must provide how many staff positions, fully or partially funded with this award, are Community Health Workers (CHW). Additionally, a list of the hourly rate of each CHW must be listed. Preference will be given to those CHWs funded in the range of $16.00- $18.00 an hour.
  4. Local Health Department Regional Allocations
    Efforts will be made to provide awards within each Local Health Department region in the State, and within the following allocation amounts (see table below). However, other factors such as locations of applicants, social vulnerability, application scoring among other determinations may deter this initial funding goal:
Health DepartmentAward Budget
Salt Lake County$102,450
Utah County$62,350
Davis County$40,150
Weber/Morgan$50,700
Southwest$54,400
Bear River$42,800
Central$35,350
Tooele$17,750
TriCounty$26,100
Southeast$23,950
Summit$15,550
Wasatch$14,850
San Juan$13,600

D. Disqualification

Any attempt by a prospective grantee to influence a member of the Selection Committee during the proposal review and evaluation process, such as attempts to use existing personal relationships or to extract promises of specific monetary amounts, will result in the elimination of the prospective grantee’s application from consideration.

The UDOH reserves the right to cancel an award if, in its sole discretion, any interest disclosed from any source could give the appearance of a conflict or cause speculation as to the objectivity of the program/project developed by the contractor. The UDOH determination regarding any questions of conflict of interest shall be final.

IV. Application and Submission Information

A. Address to Request Application Package

The application package is available on the website provided in the Executive Summary. For applicants without internet access, an application may be received by contacting Karolina Abuzyarova at the Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness, P.O. Box 142004, Salt Lake City, UT 84114, or by email at karolinaa@utah.gov.

Content and Form of Application

Each application must be submitted as part of the online submission process. The application must be completed within 30 calendar days after the announcement of the grant, as listed in the Executive Summary. Late applications will not be considered. Each application must include:

  1. Online application form
    The following form questions will be required on the application. Applications that do not provide complete details within the application form will not be considered:
    1. Organization Section
      1. Email
      2. Organization Name
      3. Target Population or Group Served
      4. County(ies) served by this project
      5. Street Address (Physical)
      6. City
      7. Zip Code
      8. Is the physical address the same as the billing/remittance address
      9. If no, what is the billing address
        1. Billing Address
        2. Billing City
        3. Billing State
        4. Billing Zip Code
      10. Amount requesting
    2. Applicant Information
      1. Name of individual submitting the application
        1. Title
        2. Email address
        3. Direct phone number
      2. Business Manager (BM) Point of Contact (POC) Name
        1. BM email address
        2. BM direct phone number
      3. Signatory Name (Person authorized to sign contract)
        1. Signatory Title
        2. Signatory Email
        3. Signatory phone number
    3. Attestation
      1. Do you attest that you have permission to complete this application?
      2. Do you attest that the information provided herein is correct and accurate, to the best of your knowledge?
    4. Mandatory Eligibility Requirement
      1. Do you represent a Utah not-for-profit community-based organization (CBOs) with demonstrated expertise in implementing public health programs and established relationships with state, tribal, local, or territorial (STLT) public health departments, particularly in medically underserved areas?
    5. Priority Populations
      1. Describe the activities the CBO will focus on with communities at high risk for experiencing COVID-19 disparities and related disparities in Utah.
    6. Priority Populations
      1. Describe the activities the CBO will focus on with communities at high risk for experiencing COVID-19 disparities and related disparities in Utah.
    7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Hiring
      1. Describe the number of people you anticipate to hire, their title(s), and a brief description of populations they will serve i.e. communities of color, rural populations, people experiencing homelessness, people living with disabilities etc. If you intend to use this funding to increase the hours of existing employees, please provide the same details.  
      2. Provide the Number of new and existing employees that will receive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) relevant training, along with the types of training offered. i.e. cultural competency, working with underserved communities, health equity etc.
      3. Describe how the CBO will establish a health equity team to focus on hiring a workforce that represents the diversity in the communities being served. If the CBO is already doing this, please describe current efforts.
    8. Action Plan
      1. Identify the target population and geographic area and how the target population will be reached.
      2. Provide a detailed explanation of the innovative strategies to be utilized within the allowable activities provided within the grant guidance.
      3. Provide a clear and detailed explanation of how current activities or projects will complement and/or support the proposed allowable activities. This must include a plan for how grant requirements will be accomplished.
    9. Budget and narrative
      1. Provide a detailed description of the budget requested and describe how each budget item is linked to the proposed allowable activities. This description must be equal to the amount requested. When listing new staff, include; title, FTE (0.01-1), hourly rate, and duties. When listing existing staff, include; name, title, FTE (0.01-1), current hourly rate, duties, increased hourly rate if applicable, and bonus or incentive amount if applicable.  
      2. How many staff positions, fully or partially funded with this award, are Community Health Workers (CHW)? Additionally, list the hourly rate of each CHW. Preference will be given to those CHW’s funded at a minimum of $18.00 an hour.
      3. What other funding sources have you applied for and are still pending or already received for the same objective as this funding? Please provide a list including; funding source, amount, whether the CBO currently receives, or if it is applied for and pending, and length of funding. 
    10. Other
      1. Provide any additional details you think may be relevant in considering this application.
    11. Criteria for Acceptance of Funding through this Grant
      This section will review the criteria of the award, funding restrictions, and reporting requirements.
      1. This section will review the criteria of the award, funding restrictions, and reporting requirements.
    12. Certification of Application
      1. Certification that all of the provided information is, to the best of your knowledge, correct and accurate.
  2. Supporting Documentation Upload
    The applicant must provide supporting documentation (10 pages maximum). Only one uploaded document is permitted per application; preferably with a PDF document type. Applications with more than ten (10) pages will be disqualified. Supporting documentation will be uploaded within an upload section provided at the bottom of the electronic application. Supporting documentation must include:
    1. Cover Page 
    2. Organizational capacity
    3. Action plan 
    4. Budget and narrative
    5. Appendices
    6. W-9
  3. Cover Page (1 page maximum).
    1. The cover page will serve as the front page of the application. This page should only include:
      1. Date
      2. Applicant agency name
      3. Address
      4. Phone number
      5. Email
      6. Website
      7. Name of the primary contact person
      8. Federal EIN/Tax ID number
      9. Target population(s)
      10. Amount of funding requested
    2. Organizational Capacity (2 pages maximum)
      This requirement establishes the general capacity of the applicant to manage and administer grant work.
      1. Provide your organization’s mission and philosophy.
      2. Describe how long your agency has been in existence and how long it has been working with the target population(s).
      3. Describe your organization’s direct experience and initiative with target population(s).
      4. Describe your organization’s capacity to manage this grant.
      5. Describe your organization’s current work with COVID-19-related activities, if any.
      6. Business Information
      7. Describe your fiscal and administrative ability to manage a state government contract and/or federal grant funds, including knowledge of Uniform Guidance.
    3. Action Plan (2 pages maximum)
      1. Identify the target population(s) and the geographic area(s) in which your organization can serve.
      2. Provide a detailed explanation of how your organization will reach the target population(s).
      3. Identify the activities your organization will implement and how they relate to allowable activities.
      4. Provide a detailed explanation of how your organization will implement the activities.
      5. Provide an explanation of how your current activities or projects will complement and/or support the proposed activities
    4. Budget and narrative (2 pages maximum)
      1. Include a line item budget
      2. Include a budget narrative
    5. Appendices (2 pages maximum)Organizational Chart (one page maximum)
      1. Qualifications of Personnel (one page maximum)
      2. Job description(s) and qualifications are required for the current employee(s) who will be managing and working on this project. Personnel working on this project must have knowledge and experience working with these populations. When applicable, bilingual personnel are strongly recommended.
  4. W-9 (First page of form only)
    The deadline for receipt of all applications is 5:00 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, on the due date provided within the Executive Summary. Applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed.
  5. Allowable Costs
    Following is a list of allowable and potential employment positions that may be considered, as well as supportive services that may be provided.
    1. The costs, including wages and benefits, related to recruiting, hiring, and training of individuals to serve as: 
      1. Professional or clinical staff; mental or behavioral health specialists to support workforce and community resilience; social service specialists; vaccinators; or laboratory scientists or technicians; 
      2. Disease investigation staff, including epidemiologists; case investigators; contact tracers; or disease intervention specialists;  
      3. Program staff, including program managers; communications and policy staff; logisticians; planning and exercise specialists; program evaluators; pandemic preparedness and response coordinators to support the current pandemic response and identify lessons learned to help prepare for possible future disease outbreaks; health equity officers or teams; data managers, including informaticians, data scientists, or data entry personnel; translation services; trainers or health educators; or other community health workers;
      4. Administrative staff, including human resources personnel; fiscal or grant managers; clerical staff; staff to track and report on hiring under this cooperative agreement; or others needed to ensure rapid hiring and procurement of goods and services and other administrative services associated with successfully managing multiple federal funding streams for the COVID-19 response; and
      5. Other positions as may be required to prevent, prepare for, and respond to COVID–19
    2. These individuals may be employed by community-based organizations with demonstrated expertise in implementing public health programs and established relationships with STLT public health departments, particularly in medically underserved areas.
      1. Purchase of equipment and supplies necessary to support the expanded workforce including personal protective equipment, equipment needed to perform the duties of the position, computers, cell phones, internet costs, cybersecurity software, and other costs associated with support of the expanded workforce.
      2. Administrative support services necessary to implement activities funded under this section, including travel and training.
  6. Allowable Activities
    The selected grantees will use funding to implement the following activities to help establish and sustain the public health workforce to support COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives among underserved and underrepresented communities in Utah.

    Selected grantees will use a variety of mechanisms to expand their public health workforce, as it relates to each Community Based Organization, including, but not limited to:
    1. Forming partnerships with academic institutions, creating internships and fellowships;
    2. Establishing partnerships with schools of public health, technical and administrative schools, and social services and social science programs; and
    3. Using temporary staffing or employment agencies.
    4. Using recent gap assessments to inform work plan activities and hiring goals. If a gap assessment is not readily available, funds can be used to conduct this activity.
    5. Addressing community recovery and resilience needs to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic and other biological threats, including vaccine-related education.
    6. Implementing public health programs in medically underserved communities.
    7. Training and education for new and existing staff on topics such as incident management training, especially from a public health perspective and integration with emergency management; health equity issues and working with underserved populations; cultural competency or other needs identified by the jurisdiction.
    8. Ensuring a focus on diversity, health equity, and inclusion by delineating goals for hiring and training a diverse workforce across all levels who are representative of, and have language competence for, the local communities they serve.
  7. Funding Restrictions
    1. Any costs not associated with building a public health workforce.
    2. Research.
    3. Publicity and propaganda (lobbying).
    4. All unallowable costs in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, And Audit Requirements for HHS Awards.
    5. This grant opportunity is reimbursement for costs incurred. Upfront distribution of funds is not permitted.
    6. Individual clinical treatment is not allowed. However, activities such as contact tracing, vaccination, and screening tests are components of a public health campaign and are not considered clinical care within CDC definitions.
    7. These funds must not be used for duplicating or supplanting existing state or federal funding resources.
    8. These funds must not be used for direct services or wrap-around services with individuals or households.

V. Application Review Information

A. Program and Selection Committee

The CBO Grant Program Committee is established to coordinate logistics of the grant program with the representatives from; the Utah Department of Health’s Office of Health Disparities (OHD), the Utah Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (BEMSP), Local Health Departments, and community public health offices.

The Selection Committee will conduct a comprehensive, fair, and impartial evaluation of applications received. The Selection Committee comprising the CBO Grant Program Committee as well as qualified grant reviewers selected by the BEMSP will evaluate applications. The Selection Committee will evaluate the proposals, rank them according to the scoring system described below, and will meet as a group to compare evaluations. The committee will then make award recommendations.

B. Compliance Review

Each application received by the due date and time will first be reviewed by the BEMSP for completeness and compliance with the requirements provided in this announcement. All applications that fail to address all requirements shall be deemed incomplete and shall receive no further consideration.

C. Evaluation Criteria

Eligible applications will be considered within a weighted average scoring matrix, and guided within key principles of fairness and transparency. Applications will first be ranked, and then will earn points for criteria which are grouped into categories.

  1. Initial Ranking
    10 points possible, weighted score of 40%
    • Average overall CDC Social Vulnerability Index Score of regions served
    • Local Health Department(s) regions served, as identified by the counties served through this program
    • Target populations served
    • Other pending and current funding sources received for the same objective
  2. Selection Committee Application Review
    145 points possible, weighted score of 60%
    • Priority Population
      25 points possible, weighted score of 20% 
      1. Activities focus on communities at high risk for experiencing COVID-19 disparities and related disparities in Utah.
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Hiring
      30 points possible, weighted score of 15%
      1. Number of people to be hired including brief descriptions of the populations they serve. 
      2. Number of new and existing employees receiving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) relevant training. 
      3. An establishment of a health equity team to focus on hiring a workforce that represents the diversity in the communities being served. 
    • Organizational Capacity
      40 points possible, weighted score of 10% 
      1. Administrative capabilities to receive and expend funds and manage and report on requirement activities.
      2. Clear definition of roles and responsibilities.
      3. Expertise in managing grants.
      4. Expertise in working with the priority population(s).
    • Action Plan
      25 points possible, weighted score of 10%
      1. Identify the target population and the geographic area and how they will be reached.
      2. Clear and detailed explanation of innovative strategies related to the approved activities.
      3. Clear and detailed explanation of how current activities or projects will complement and/or support proposed activities. Plan for how grant requirements will be accomplished.
      4. Clear and detailed explanation of approach and mitigation plans to address challenges in meeting the hiring goals.
    • Budget
      25 points possible, weighted score of 5%
      1. Budget line items clearly linked to proposed activities.
      2. CHW positions calculated at a minimum of $18.00/hour.
      3. Sufficient funds allocated to support key program elements.
      4. Accuracy of fund allocation amounts.

D. Review and Selection Process

An initial administrative review/screen will be conducted to determine compliance with requirements and completeness. All proposals will then be evaluated and individually ranked with the assigned weights of the above evaluation criteria. The Selection Committee ratings are used to determine final scores. In making final selections, the Selection Committee will consider final scores and evaluation notes in order to ensure fairness and equity of the awards. 

E. Selection Factors

The Selection Committee will award in rank order unless the application is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon any of the following selection factors:

  1. Balance and Distribution of funds:
    • Across target populations served
    • Local Health Department regions served
    • Other funding sources available
  2. Availability of funds
  3. Program-specific objectives

F. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

The competitive selection process and subsequent notification to this grant will be completed within 30-days of grant closing date as provided in the Executive Summary. Funds are expected to be awarded by approximately December 1, 2021, the start date that should be used on the application for successful applications.

VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices

The notice of award made by the Utah Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness (BEMSP) will be provided electronically to the point of contact and business manager of the recipient organization. Awardees will be given seven (7) days to accept the award.

B. Reporting

  1. Staffing Requirements
    • Awardees must designate a coordinator to be responsible for all activities.
      1. Submit a report via tool(s) provided by the BEMSP.
    • Attend all meetings related to the project as determined by the BEMSP.
  2. Compliance Requirements
    • Submit a bi-annual progress report no later than the fifth day of the month following the month in which the activities were performed including hiring goals. (e.g. monthly report for January-June activities is due July 5).
    • Submit a bi-annual fiscal report of actual expenses no later than the fifth day of the month following the month in which the activities were performed. (e.g. monthly report for January-June activities is due July 5).
    • Submit an invoice for reimbursement no later than the fifth day of the month following the month in which the expenditures were incurred.

VII. Agency Contact

For questions please contact Karolina Abuzyarova, COVID-19 Grants Coordinator, Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness at karolinaa@utah.gov.

The application for this grant can be found by clicking here. Application submissions will open on November 1, 2021 and will close on December 15, 2021. Applicants will be notified via email about the status of their application within four weeks from the date of the application closure.