To establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce within K-12 Schools to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
Release Date: February 7, 2022
Application URL: https://forms.gle/3EuQaBiy1zJcXJ8g8
Due Date: 5:00 P.M. MST, February 25, 2022
Only online applications will be accepted
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: prepgrants@utah.gov | Website: www.bemsp.utah.gov
Executive Summary
| Funding Source | Centers 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 |
| Administrator | Utah 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 |
| Type | Grant Application |
| Grant Program | K-12 School-Based COVID-19 Response Grant Funding Number: 1577-PHW22-PREP-SBR2 Funding Opportunity URL: https://coronavirus.utah.gov Application URL: https://forms.gle/mz714FwkMTo2rnzM7 |
| Timeline | Grant Open: February 7, 2022 Grant Close: 5:00 P.M. MST, February 25, 2022 Contracts End: June 30, 2023 |
| School District Awards | Amount requested through June 30, 2023, up to $202,343 for each awarded School District. Previously awarded school districts may not reapply. |
| Charter and Private School Awards | Amount requested through June 30, 2023 up to $100,000 for each awarded K-12 Charter or Private School. Previously awarded Charter or Private Schools may not reapply. |
| Performance Period | 12/1/21 – 6/30/23 |
| Purpose | To establish, expand, and sustain a public health workforce within K-12 Schools to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives. |
| Eligibility | Funding is intended for K-12 Community Public Schools. The second and third round grant will fund Utah’s School Districts, Charter Schools, and Private Schools in the State of Utah. Priority of awardees include; 1) School Districts, 2) Charter Schools, and 3) Private Schools. Additional considerations include; how districts, charter, private and parochial schools are supported by the State of Utah in determining awards of this grant, how each award will meet the State’s jurisdictional and local needs, and the social vulnerability index within the corresponding county and facility or School District location(s). |
| Selection Committee | Representatives from; Utah Bureau of EMS and Preparedness. Utah School Board of Education, and Utah Department of Health School Nurse Liaison. |
| Service Scope | Awardees are expected to expand, recruit, hire, and train the best qualified school health clinical staff to address projected jurisdictional COVID-19 response needs over the performance period. |
| 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 | • Costs may be related to recruiting, hiring, and training of individuals that provide COVID-19 related services of those who serve as a registered school nurse or the best qualified school health clinical candidate(s) who is school-based, converting current clinical staff from part-time to full-time work, increasing hours, increasing nursing salaries or otherwise supporting retention efforts to reach a total of 2 new FTE registered nurses, or best qualified school health clinical candidates, for School Districts, or 1 new FTE registered nurse, or the best qualified school health clinical candidate, for charter and private schools. Requested funds must not be used to supplant or replace funding sources for existing FTE hours of registered nurses. • Upon a proven and bonafide need from an inability to hire registered nurses, applicants may hire the best qualified school health clinical staff candidate(s) for clinical staffing as outlined in the Supplemental Section, located at the end of this guidance. Additionally, upon passing of State Bill SB101, students in their last year of nursing school may be eligible to work as a registered nurse (under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician). • Purchase of equipment and supplies necessary to support the expanded workforce including personal protective equipment, and other supplies 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. |
| Restrictions | • Duplicative or supplanting of existing state or federal funding resources. • Funds 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. • This grant opportunity is reimbursement for funds incurred only. |
| Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Requirement | Applicants 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. |
Please read this document in its entirety.
The end of the document provides instruction in order to submit a proposal.
Round Three: K-12 School-Based COVID-19 Response Grant
1. Introduction
The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and the Utah Department of Health (UDOH), with the support of Utah’s Local Health Departments, are collaboratively forming a grant program to meet individual jurisdictional and local needs of clinical support in Utah’s Kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12): school districts, charter and private schools to establish, expand, train, and sustain the school-based health workforce for Utah’s K-12 schools to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
This grant opportunity invites all Utah K-12 schools to increase their school nursing or best qualified school health clinical staff. This third application round follows awards to prioritized Local Education Agencies based on COVID-19 burden. Funding is available through June 30, 2023.
2. Focus and Mission
To establish, expand, train, and sustain the school-based health workforce for Utah’s K-12 schools to support jurisdictional COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives.
2.1 Federal Award Compliance
The total budget for this grant program to support school-based health program nurses or best qualified school health clinical staff when registered nurses are unable to be hired, as outlined within the grant program, is $6,677,323 or 33.81% of the Utah Department of Health’s CDC Crisis Workforce total award. After Round One and Two grant awards, approximately $3 million is available for Round Three grants through June 30, 2023. Review the supplemental section provided at the end of this guidance for specific rules pertaining to hiring best qualified school health clinical staff.
3. Round Three Eligibility Screening
This grant is the third round of funding open to all Utah K-12 School Districts, Charter, and Private schools.
3.1 Round One Eligibility
The CDC’s general intent is to fund K-12 community public schools. In the first round, K-12 School Districts within the determined school districts with the highest COVID-19 burden were defined and prioritized.
3.2 Round Two Eligibility
Funding is intended for K-12 Community Public Schools. The second and third round fund School Districts, Charter Schools, and Private Schools in the State of Utah. Priority of awardees include; 1) School Districts, 2) Charter Schools, and 3) Private Schools. Additional considerations include; how districts, charter, private and parochial schools are supported by the State of Utah in determining awards of this grant, and how each award will meet the State’s jurisdictional and local needsAdditionally, the Grant Committee may take into consideration the CDC/ATSDR Social Vulnerability Index (CDC/ATSDR SVI) data for prioritization on county levels of social vulnerability.
3.3 Awards
This grant opportunity is on a reimbursement basis. Upfront distribution of funds is not permitted. Awardees will receive a contract from the Department of Health. These funds are not intended to replace funding for existing staff hours. These funds are intended for converting current nurses or best qualified school health clinical staff when registered nurses are unable to be hired, from part-time to full-time work, increasing hours, increasing salaries, or otherwise supporting retention efforts, or to hire new nurses or best qualified school health clinical staff when registered nurses are unable to be hired. Refer to the supplemental section at the end of this guidance for rules on hiring best qualified school health clinical staff.
3.4 Awards, based upon Districts, Charter school, and private schools to include:
- 3.4.1. School District applicants can apply for an award up to $202,342, and must request a specific amount for the entire grant period through June 30, 2023, to include:
- 3.4.1.1. $100,000/FTE for each registered school nurse, for up to 2 FTEs with full benefits per award. We recommend that schools hire a nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree when possible. Other best qualified school health clinical staff may be funded when registered nurses are unable to be hired. See the supplemental section at the end of this guidance for more information.
- 3.4.1.2. Up to 5% of the requested amount may be used for eligible administrative costs, see allowable costs below.
- 3.4.1.3. Requested amounts are to be reflective of the entire grant period through June 30, 2023, which can include the current, as well as the next school year.
- 3.4.2. Charter school and private schools can apply for an award up to $100,000, to include:
- 3.4.2.1. Up to $100,000/FTE for one registered school nurse with full benefits per award. We recommend that schools hire a nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree when possible. Other best qualified school health clinical staff may be funded when registered nurses are unable to be hired. See the supplemental section at the end of this guidance for more information.
- 3.4.2.1.1. Additionally, the application does allow for a school to request a scaled award, ex. $75,000 for a 0.75 FTE, $50,000 for a 0.5 FTE, or $25,000 for a 0.25 FTE.
- 3.4.2.1.2. Up to 5% of the requested amount may be used for eligible administrative costs, see allowable costs below.
- 3.4.2.1.3. Requested amounts are to be reflective of the entire grant period through June 30, 2023, which can include the current, as well as the next school year.
- 3.4.2.1.4. Up to 5% of the requested amount may be used for eligible administrative costs, see allowable costs below.
- 3.4.2.1. Up to $100,000/FTE for one registered school nurse with full benefits per award. We recommend that schools hire a nurse with a Bachelor’s Degree when possible. Other best qualified school health clinical staff may be funded when registered nurses are unable to be hired. See the supplemental section at the end of this guidance for more information.
- 3.4.3. Funding will be available through June 30, 2023. Requested amounts are to be reflective of the entire grant period through June 30, 2023, which can include the current, as well as the next school year.
- 3.4.4. Registered nurses or other best qualified clinical staff acquired with these funds must be supervised by a registered nurse or higher clinical level.
- 3.4.5. Awarded applicants will receive a grant award acceptance letter, and have seven (7) days to sign and return the letter, or forfeit the award.
- 3.4.6. Awarded applicants who return the acceptance letter will be sent a contract and will have 30 days to sign and return the contract, or forfeit the award.
3.5 School District Awarding Priority
- 3.5.1. CDC guidance provides that allowable costs can include the following:
- 3.5.1.1. These administrative costs may be related to recruiting, hiring, and training of individuals that provide COVID-19 related services of those who serve as a registered school nurse or best qualified clinical staff, who is school-based, converting current staff hours from part-time to full-time work, increasing hours, increasing nursing salaries or otherwise supporting retention efforts to reach a total of 2 new FTE registered nurses for School Districts, or 1 new FTE registered nurse for charter and private schools. Other approved clinical staff may be permitted when registered nurses are unable to be hired as outlined in the supplemental section located at the end of this guidance.
- 3.5.1.2. These individuals may be employed by schools, school boards, school districts, local health departments, regional educational service agencies or appropriate entities for providing school-based health care.
- 3.5.1.3. Administrative costs including the 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, computer accessories and software, cell phones, internet costs, cybersecurity software, and other costs to implement activities funded, including travel and training associated with support of the expanded workforce.
- 3.5.2. CDC guidance provides that allowable activities can include:
- 3.5.2.1. Making subawards or contracts to local schools or school districts to support school nurses and school-based health services. Other best qualified clinical staff may be permitted when registered nurses are unable to be hired as outlined in the supplemental section, located at the end of this guidance.
- 3.5.2.2. Awarding funds to schools of public health or private or public organizations with demonstrated expertise in implementing public health programs in medically underserved communities.
- 3.5.2.3. Improving school-based health programs and campaigns, to rebuild and augment the school health workforce, which includes registered nurses or other best qualified clinical staff.
- 3.5.2.3.1. 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.
4. Funding Restrictions
- 4.1. Providing individual all-day clinical treatment.
- 4.2. Duplicative or supplanting of existing state or federal funding resources.
5. Application Requirements
Applications must include all information as provided below, as included within the grant package. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Sections within the application include:
- 5.1. Organizational Details
- 5.1.1. Organization or Facility Name
- 5.1.2. Organization Type (School District, Charter, Private)
- 5.1.3. Physical Address
- 5.1.4. Point of contact for application
- 5.1.5. Business manager contact information
- 5.1.6. Signatory contact information
- 5.2. Project Description and Scope
- 5.2.1. School district region
- 5.2.2. How many registered school nurses, or best qualified clinical staff is the organization applying for? (total number of individuals)
- 5.2.3. How many registered school nurses or best qualified clinical staff will be new hires? (0.25 – 2.0 FTE)
- 5.2.4. How many registered school nurses or best qualified clinical staff are existing staff members (0.25-2.0 FTE)?
- 5.2.4.1. Does the existing staff currently receive benefits? (Yes/No)
- 5.2.4.2. Will this funding allow the existing staff to receive benefits? (Yes/No)
- 5.2.5. Describe the activities of the best qualified school health clinical staff requested with these funds.
- 5.2.6. Describe the approach for addressing the allowable activities, including procuring sufficient personnel to meet jurisdictional response needs for the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing hard-to-reach communities, focusing efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion in hiring and recruiting workers from the local communities they serve.
- 5.2.6. How will your organization recruit individuals with the necessary skill set to address community needs in public health?
- 5.3. Hiring and Diversity Goals
- 5.3.1. Briefly detail activities proposed to support school-based health services, such as but not limited to:
- 5.3.1.1. Number of school nurses or best qualified clinical staff hired, types of populations served i.e. inner city, rural, suburban etc. Indicate how they represent the diversity of communities affected by COVID-19 specifically, those medically underserved.
- 5.3.1.2. Number of hires that support partnerships with relevant public health programs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), private or public organizations to address specific needs in schools.
- 5.3.1.3. Number of public health training events conducted for school health officials.
- 5.3.2. Provide any additional details you think may be relevant in considering this application
- 5.3.1. Briefly detail activities proposed to support school-based health services, such as but not limited to:
- 5.4. The criteria for acceptance of funding.
- 5.4.1. Question based on an understanding of the details provided within this scope of work. (Yes/No)
6. Awardee Reporting Requirements
6.1 Post-Award Reporting and Invoicing
- 6.1.1. Throughout the award, signatory and business administrator contact information must be kept current. Updates are to be sent to the Utah Department of Health point of contact, as identified within the awardee contract.
- 6.1.2. Monthly reimbursement invoice to include personnel hours and related costs documented with time and effort documentation, signed off by the school’s authorized signer or designee:
- 6.1.2.1. Schools not submitting regular and complete monthly invoices must provide communication with the Utah Department of Health point of contact explaining the situation.
- 6.1.2.2. Those schools that have not submitted reimbursement requests within six months of the contract beginning date will receive a notice to terminate the contract early.
- 6.1.3. Bi-annual fiscal report and progress report from the previous six months, each report is due within the following schedule:
| Activity Period | Deadline |
| July 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 | January 15, 2022 |
| January 1, 2022 – June 30, 2022 | July 15, 2022 |
| July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022 | January 15, 2023 |
| January 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023 | July 15, 2023 |
- 6.1.3.1.1. Bi-annual Progress Report will include a status update of meeting hiring goals and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics, using a template provided by the Utah Department of Health.
- 6.1.3.1.2. Bi-annual Fiscal Report will include actual expenses and fiscal commitments, using a template provided by the Utah Department of Health.
- 6.1.4. End of contract report of activities will be due on July 15, 2023, using a template provided by the Utah Department of Health, and includes the final Fiscal Report, the final Progress Report, and a Performance Progress and Evaluation Report.
- 6.1.5. School health workload report, within the June 30 due date as provided by the Utah Department of Health.
7 Decision Making Scoring Matrix
Grant applications will be considered within a weighted average scoring matrix, earning points for criteria which are grouped into five categories.
- School District Prioritization – 10 points possible, weighted score of 50%
- Project description and Scope – 10 points possible, weighted score of 20%
- Budget – 10 points possible, weighted score of 15%
- Hiring and Diversity Goals – 10 points possible, weighted score of 10%
- Criteria for Acceptance of Funding – 10 points possible, weighted score of 5%
8. Application Instructions
The application for this grant can be found by clicking here, or at the URL: https://forms.gle/mz714FwkMTo2rnzM7. Application submissions will open on 2/7/22 and close on 2/25/22. Applicants will be notified via email the status of their application, within two weeks from the date of the application closure.
Supplemental Information –
Steps to Hire the Most Qualified Candidate
Please follow the steps provided below to find a most qualified clinical candidate in lieu of a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in nursing
- If no qualified BSN candidates apply, the agency may move to a qualified candidate with an associate degree in nursing (ADN).
- If no qualified BSN or ADN candidates apply, the agency may underfill the position with a licensed practical nurse (LPN). If hiring an LPN, the LPN must be directly supervised by a registered nurse or licensed physician.
- If no qualified RN or LPN candidates apply, the agency may underfill the position with a qualified unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). These candidates may be a community health worker (CHW), a certified nurses assistant (CNA), a school health clerk, or other school-related non-licensed personnel. If hiring an UAP, the UAP must be directly supervised by a registered nurse or licensed physician.
Steps to Hire the Most Qualified Candidate: Follow the algorithm below to fill the position with the most qualified applicant.
