(ALERT: The Program Description and other information below have been revised to reflect the changes made in the NGP Guidelines and Application Instructions on September 20, 2013.  Please see the Attachment on page 3 of this description for a summary of the revisions made to the required NGP guidelines and application)

Program Description

The NGP will provide Grants-in-aid to selected private, nonprofit health and human service organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3). The goal of the NGP is to enhance service delivery efficiency and effectiveness and address health, safety and accessibility issues with respect to health and human services provided by nonprofit providers, with applicants who are delivering such services under one or more contracts or agreements with and funding from one of more State agencies to receive priority.     

The NGP is administered in accordance with Section 13 of Public Act 13-239, June 2013 Session.   The NGP is to be funded by proceeds from State General Obligation Bonds.  The use of such funds for this program is subject to review and approval of the State Bond Commission in accordance with Section 3-20 of the Connecticut General Statutes. The State Bond Commission is authorized to issue up to $20,000,000 in funding to support eligible projects.

The award of any grant pursuant to this program is dependent upon the review and approval of OPM.  Please see the application process timeframes and related information below.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are qualified health and human services organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time. As indicated the goal of the NGP is to enhance service delivery efficiency and effectiveness and address health, safety and accessibility issues with respect to health and human services provided by nonprofit providers. 

Eligible projects include:

·         facility alterations, renovation, improvements, additions, new construction and land purchase associated with new construction or additions;

·         health, safety and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) projects;

·         energy conservation improvements or projects;

·         information technology systems, including encryption or client confidentiality systems;

·         technology that promotes client independence;

·         purchase of vehicle(s);

·         acquisition and upgrades to electronic health or medical records and other health information technology systems; and

·         converting use of property to address mutually agreed to service needs.     

Grant Amounts

·         Grant awards will be limited to generally no more than $1.0 million for any project or nonprofit provider per year

• $25,000 minimum cost per project
• Grant typically should not exceed 25% of the applicant’s annual budget for health and human services.
• Evaluation Committee or OPM Secretary, in consultation with applicant, may modify the amount requested in approving awards.

Application Process Timeframes

1)  Application deadline for the first round of funding:  Applications for the first round of funding under this program are due to the following address not later than 4:00 p.m. on October 18, 2013 (note date change):

Office of Policy and Management

                   450 Capitol Avenue

                   Hartford, CT  06106

                   c/o Valerie Clark, Office of Finance
                   e-mail: valerie.clark@ct.gov

2)  Questions and answers regarding Program Guidelines and Application Instructions and the Application Form:  Potential applicants can submit questions related to these Program Guidelines and Application Instructions and the Application Form to the Official State Contact through mail or e-mail, which questions must be received by the Official State Contact not later than 4:00 p.m. on September 6, 2013.  These questions and the related answers will be posted on OPM’s websiteand DAS’s website not later than 4:00 p.m. on September 20, 2013.

3)  Selection and award process:  OPM and/or the Evaluation Committee plans to post information regarding the anticipated timeframes related to the selection and award process as this information becomes available.  It is anticipated that applicants will be notified about the status of their application not later than February 15, 2014.  It is the State’s goal to have grant award agreements with selected applicants completed no later than May 1, 2014.

4)  Rolling applications:  If funding remains after the first round, applications will be accepted on a rolling, continuous basis.  More information as appropriate in this regard

will be posted on OPM’s website and DAS’s website.

How do I apply?

The NGP Guidelines and Application Instructions and the application, which were revised on September 20, 2013, are located at (OPM and DAS)  or can be obtained by contacting the Official Agency Contact.

Official Agency Contact

Valerie Clark, (860) 418-6313, mailto:valerie.clark@ct.gov

Important Note to Award Recipients

Please do not proceed with any anticipated NGP-funded project work until you are fully aware of any contractual terms required by the administering agency and all necessary contracts are fully executed.  Any work done without a contract in place will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Statutory Authority

PA 13-239, Section 13, of the July 2013 Session.

Summary of Revisions to NGP Guidelines and Application Instructions and Application on September 20, 2013

The NGP Program Guidelines and Application Instructions and the required NGP application have been revised. The revised guidelines and application must be used by applicants in completing their applications and can be accessed through the links provided on the OPM and DAS web-sites or through the Official State Contact.

The changes to the NGP Guidelines and Application Instructions and NGP application include the following:

1)    Nonprofits that are exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that provide one or more health and human services are eligible to apply, whether or not they have a State contract.

2)    Building or facility purchases are not an eligible expense under NGP.  Land purchases associated with new construction or additions are an eligible expense.

3)    The Grant Amounts section has been revised to state, in part, that the: “Grant typically should not exceed 25% of the applicant’s annual budget for health and human services”.

4)    The evaluation criteria have been amended to indicate that applicants delivering health and human services under one or more contracts or agreements with or funding from one of more State agencies will receive priority. Applications achieving efficiencies or improvements for health and human services provided under a State contract and with State funds will also receive priority.

5)    The due date for applications has been extended from “not later than 4:00 pm on October 4, 2013” to “not later than 4:00 pm on October 18, 2013”.

6)    The anticipated date related to notice to applicants regarding the status of their applications has been revised to February 15, 2014, while the anticipated date for grant award contracts to be in place with selected applicants has been revised to May 1, 2014.  The previous dates were December 15, 2013 and March 1, 2014, respectively.

7)   Adjustments have been made in the NGP Application reflecting the revisions in the guidelines. These revisions involve the following NGP application sections: Part 1.C., Part 2.A., Part 2.C. and Part 2.H.4.

If you have any questions please contact Valerie Clark @ 860-418-6313.