Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS)
Request for Capabilities Statements from Potential Subcontractors for
2016 Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
SCHEDULE
Deadline for Submitting Capabilities Statements:
February 3, 2016, 8:00 p.m. ET
January 7, 2016
February 3, 2016
March 1, 2016
April 1-September 30, 2016
Request for capabilities statements released
Capabilities statements received by 8:00 p.m. ET
(7:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. MT, 5:00 p.m. PT)
Subcontractors notified
Period of performance for subcontract projects
SUMMARY
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has established a
contract with the Center for Social Innovation (C4) to operate the Bringing Recovery Supports to
Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS). C4 is currently requesting
capabilities statements from Collegiate Recovery Programs (CRPs) and Collegiate Recovery
Communities (CRCs) to carry out activities that develop or expand capacity to effectively
engage and serve a broad array of students with behavioral health conditions. For the purpose of
this announcement, the term “peer” is defined as an individual with lived experience of
substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or co-occurring mental health and substance
use conditions and is in recovery from said conditions.
The overall purpose of the 2016 Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building
Opportunity is to promote and support capacity building, outreach, education, engagement,
collaboration, training, and communications among CRPs and CRCs, in order to increase
supports for college students with behavioral health conditions. Subcontractors will work within
their universities and local student communities to carry out one or a combination of the
following:
1. Expand the reach of CRPs/CRCs within their collegiate communities by engaging more
students in need of wellness and recovery supports; reducing negative perceptions about
individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or co-occurring conditions;
and promoting health and wellness through positive communications and events. Activities
might include targeted public health messaging, outreach and engagement activities, and other
efforts to increase access to programming and environments that promote wellness and
recovery among the student body.
SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
Request for Capabilities Statements
2. Increase the access of CRPs/CRCs to recovery supports through strategic partnerships
with community-based Peer-run Organizations (PROs), Recovery Community Organizations
(RCOs) and collegiate health/student services departments. Subcontractors may cultivate
partnerships with PROs/RCOs, collegiate health/student services departments, and relevant
community-based resources that will advance peer involvement and engagement while
increasing recovery supports. Activities may include: increasing the availability of peer
recovery supports for students in both their collegiate and living environments; training and
supervising young adult peer leaders; engaging young adult peer advisory councils that
contribute to recovery-focused activities for young adults; or developing sustainability plans
for integrating recovery-focused peer support into existing student services.
3. Expand the reach of strategic partnerships with existing student services centers to
broaden support for students in recovery from mental health and substance use conditions.
Activities may facilitate the collaboration of PROs/RCOs and campus-based health/student
services, under the umbrella of a collegiate recovery program or community, in order to
integrate peer engagement in the provision of behavioral health recovery and wellness
supports throughout the collegiate environment. Activities might also support capacity and
infrastructure development; the use of recovering peers in collegiate environments to
enhance outreach and engagement; the creation of safe harbors for students with behavioral
health conditions to access recovery supports; or increased awareness and safe access for
students interested in learning more about addressing or maintaining their behavioral health
recovery.
4. Enhance student behavioral health through the creation of multiple pathways that
encourage wellness and recovery. Activities should help to develop or further augment a
comprehensive array of peer recovery supports and services that promote diverse pathways to
recovery for students with behavioral health conditions, including but not limited to: peer
recovery coaching, peer support groups, all-recovery groups, life-skills training, employment
coaching, health and wellness activities such as Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)
services, recovery planning, drug-free socialization activities, and supports.
C4 will issue up to seven (7) subcontracts in the amount of $40,000 each.
ELIGIBILITY
SAMHSA and C4 are seeking CRPs and CRCs, alone or in partnership with other nonprofit
organizations such as community-based behavioral health care providers; PROs; RCOs; tribal
organizations; and state, local, tribal, or territorial government entities funding or operating
institutions of higher education to apply, to this request for capability statements (RCS). Partner
organizations may serve as nonprofit fiduciary agents for emerging CRPs or CRCs, who are not
SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
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Request for Capabilities Statements
yet incorporated, provided they agree not to deduct administrative fees from awards made under
this notice. All partnerships with other organizations linked to this subcontract must be included
in the memoranda of understanding (MOU) or similar contractual documents.
More specifically, potential subcontractors must be entities that meet at least one of the
following criteria:





CRPs/CRCs expanding reach
CRPs/CRCs expanding supports for students with mental health conditions
CRPs/CRCs partnering with PROs/RCOs to expand reach, services, or both
CRPs/CRCs partnering with collegiate health/student services departments or student
organizations to promote peer involvement and improve outreach to students
experiencing behavioral health conditions
CRPs/CRCs focusing on expanding peer recovery programs to support multiple pathways
to recovery
The statutory authority for this program prohibits the funding of for-profit agencies.
The organization must complete and attach to the capability statement the Certificate of
Eligibility that indicates that the organization meets all eligibility requirements. The Certificate
of Eligibility can be found in ATTACHMENT B, on page 9.
CAPABILITIES STATEMENT COMPONENTS
Every collegiate environment is different; therefore, capabilities statements will differ and
be responsive to the environment in which they operate. A capabilities statement describes
the: (1) organization’s capacity to fulfill the selected activity, and (2) steps that will be taken to
accomplish this goal within the specified time period. In instances where a partnership is
proposed, one of the proposed partners must serve as the principal organization and assume
responsibility for fiscal management and project deliverables for the subcontract. Partners’ roles
must be clearly outlined in the capabilities statement.
A strong capabilities statement will generally include the following information in no more than
six pages:
(a) Problem statement: The problem statement should contain a brief summary of the
need for the proposed project within the university environment or local communities,
including identification of resource gaps and relevant information about the
prevalence of behavioral health conditions amongst the population to be served.
(b) Organization and management structure: This section of the capabilities
statement should contain a description of the governance and organizational structure
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and management of the lead CRP/CRC including its fiscal management structure. If
a CRP/CRC is part of a larger organizational structure (e.g., Collegiate Recovery
Program provided through the Student Services Center), its position within that larger
organizational structure must be clearly described. If a CRP/CRC is partnering with
another organization, the relationship should be outlined and include the MOU and
other supporting documentation. The description should reflect the eligibility criteria
listed on page 2.
(c) Experience: This section should include a list of previous projects relevant to the
proposed scope of work, including the organization’s previous experience in
developing, implementing, and promoting peer support for young adults, projects
focused on public health messaging, education, and development of peer leadership
opportunities for people in recovery from behavioral health conditions.
(d) Approach: This section should include identification of the type of project the
organization intends to carry out and a summary of how the project will be
implemented within the six-month project period. Prospective subcontractors should
provide a logic model that outlines the key objectives of the project, concrete
deliverables, and a timeline that underscores anticipated dates for their delivery. For
example, a highly qualified potential subcontractor would demonstrate their capacity
to carry out the project by identifying: (1) steps to be taken according to a clearly
laid-out timeline; (2) specific deliverables to be produced with anticipated delivery
dates; and (3) the organization’s plan for sustaining the project beyond the
subcontract period.
(e) Letters of Support: Applicants are highly encouraged to include letters of support
from appropriate stakeholder organizations or institutions that articulate the need and,
if applicable, the willingness to collaborate on the proposed project. Letters
accompanying the capabilities statement do not count towards the six-page limit.
(f) Budget: The budget should specify how the subcontract funds of $40,000 will be
allocated to cover personnel, supplies, and other eligible costs (see ATTACHMENT
C, page 10). The budget attachment accompanying the capabilities statement does
not count towards the six-page limit.
Funding is not available for:
(a) Direct mental health or substance use treatment, services, or care
(b) Any activity that violates local, state, or federal laws or the terms of SAMHSA’s
contract with C4 for the operation of the BRSS TACS project
(c) Payment for professional services not directly related to the proposed project
activities
(d) Costs for the creation of new organizations and fundraising
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(e) Indirect costs or institutional overhead (indirect costs are those not readily identifiable
with a particular project objective but necessary to the general operation of a
nonprofit organization and the conduct of the activities it performs)
(f) Subcontractors may not pass the funds to another organization that will execute the
proposed project. However, if a subcontractor does not have the infrastructure in
place to accept funds and provide adequate financial oversight, it is permitted to
identify a fiscal agent who will provide these financial services. Subcontractors may
enter into subcontracts with organizations and individuals to conduct specific
activities that support the overall project. These subcontracts will need to be
reviewed and approved by C4 and SAMHSA prior to execution of the project
activities.
(g) Lobbying activities
(h) Travel or lodging expenses not directly related to the subcontractor’s planning and
administrative oversight of this project. (Examples of non-allowable travel expenses
include external activities unnecessary to implement the subcontract as well as those
associated with conferences or training sessions not directly related to this
subcontract.)
(i) Expenses related to meetings or conferences. This includes meeting space at hotels,
conference centers, or any other venue that falls outside the direct scope of this subcontract. Subcontractors are strongly encouraged to use technology, where
appropriate, to provide virtual educational and training events.
(j) The provision of food or beverages
(k) Programs or activities that supplant those that are currently funded
C4 will review and assess the capabilities statements and provide a listing of the most highly
qualified organizations to SAMHSA. SAMHSA representatives will select the seven
organizations to receive subcontracts. In addition to reviewing organizations’ capabilities to
carry out the goals of the project, SAMHSA will seek a balance of wellness and recoveryoriented institutions and organizations, serving a diversity of collegiate students (e.g., projects
with an emphasis on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer [LGBTQ] community;
historically black colleges and universities [HBCU]; or tribal colleges and universities), as well
as geographical diversity across the Public Health Service Regions (PHSR). (For further
information about PHSR, see: http://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/staff-divisions/iea/regionaloffices/.) Organizations chosen to receive a subcontract will be notified no later than March 1,
2016.
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Request for Capabilities Statements
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING CAPABILITIES STATEMENTS
Submit capabilities statements by email (preferred method) or mail (overnight courier or U.S.
Postal Service). Faxed capabilities statements will not be accepted. Email capabilities
statements to Rebecca Stouff at rstouff@center4si.com.
Mail capabilities statements to:
Rebecca Stouff
Center for Social Innovation
200 Reservoir Street, Suite 202
Needham, MA 02494
Capabilities statements must be single-spaced, using Times New Roman, 12-point font size with
one-inch document margins. The completed cover sheet (see ATTACHMENT A, page 8),
signed Certificate of Eligibility (see ATTACHMENT B, page 9), and budget (see
ATTACHMENT C, page 10) must be submitted with the capabilities statement.
Capabilities statements must be received no later than 8:00 p.m. ET on February 3, 2016.
Please do not send additional materials, such as videotapes, educational materials, or other
supporting documentation. They will not be reviewed and cannot be returned.
Capabilities statements received after 8:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. MT, 5:00 p.m.
PT) on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, will not be accepted or reviewed.
SUBCONTRACT ADMINISTRATION
C4 will administer funds as fixed-price subcontracts to the seven organizations chosen to carry
out this work. The period of performance is six months, beginning no later than April 1, 2016.
Required subcontract deliverables include: (1) a complete work plan with milestones and
benchmarks specified; (2) monthly reporting activities; and (3) a final report and sustainability
plan that must be accompanied by project materials such as critical memoranda, strategic plans,
activity descriptions, promotional materials, educational materials or manuals, and plans for
dissemination of materials. Subcontract funds will be divided into two payments over the course
of the project period, with 60 percent ($24,000) of the funds disbursed after the subcontractor
signs the subcontract agreement, delivers a complete work plan, and submits an invoice.
Reporting, communication, and deliverable requirements as outlined in the subcontract must be
met to qualify for the second payment, the remaining 40 percent ($16,000) of the funds.
Subcontractors are expected to participate in three conference calls (one project kick-off call and
two project reporting calls) to discuss project progress and to exchange knowledge and lessons
learned from the projects through peer-to-peer sharing.
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There will be a kick-off teleconference on March 7, 2016, and projects are expected to be
completed by September 30, 2016.
CONTACT INFORMATION
You may send questions via e-mail to Rebecca Stouff at rstouff@center4si.com (preferred
method), or you may call (781) 247-1752.
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Request for Capabilities Statements
ATTACHMENT A
2016 Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
Please review the checklist below and indicate that the required items accompany the
capabilities statement.
Checklist
o Completed Cover Sheet (Attachment A)
o Signed Certificate of Eligibility (Attachment B)
o Budget (Attachment C)
o
Capabilities statement follows
guidelines:
 Four to six single-spaced pages
 Times New Roman, 12-point font size
 One-inch document margins
Organization Information
FULL NAME OF ORGANIZATION:
Key Personnel Information
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Signing Authority and Contact for Notices
FEDERAL EIN #:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
TITLE:
ADDRESS:
DIRECT PHONE #:
DIRECT PHONE #:
E-MAIL:
KEY PERSONNEL
Essential for the work performed under
subcontract
FAX #: (optional)
NAME:
TITLE:
ADDRESS:
DIRECT PHONE #:
Please provide a brief statement of work that includes the primary goal and summary of planned
activities described in the capabilities statement.
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ATTACHMENT B
2016 Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
Certificate of Eligibility
An authorized representative of the principal partner organization submitting the capabilities statement
must complete and sign this certificate. The signed certificate must accompany the capabilities
statement.
I certify the following:

The principal applicant is a CRP or CRC dedicated to the inclusion of individuals seeking or in
mental health and substance use recovery in collegiate environments.

The principal applicant is a CRP or CRC dedicated to promoting wellness and recovery for
individuals with substance use disorders, mental health conditions, or co-occurring conditions.

The named organization will assume the principal role in the fiscal management and oversight of
the subcontract.
An authorized representative of the named organization must sign and date this form to certify that the
aforementioned statements are accurate.
___________________________________________
Type or print name
__________________________
Title
____________________________________________ _________________________
Signature
Date
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ATTACHMENT C
2016 Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
Budget Instructions
Please include direct personnel, operating expenses and any in-kind funds attributed to the
project in your budget. You may use the budget format of your choice, or you can enter budget
elements into the table below. This attachment accompanies the capabilities statement and does
not count toward the overall page limit. Budgets must account for the full-awarded amount of
$40,000.
Personnel: Provide the name and title of each individual staff member involved in the project.
Include a brief description of the individual’s responsibilities with an estimated hourly rate and
the number of hours the individual will work on this project. You may group staff together
according to roles, such as administrative assistants, educators, and peer outreach specialists.
List the total budget allocated for personnel.
Operating Expenses: List direct expenses relevant to the project, such as printing, telephone,
and Internet services. Include a brief breakdown of the expenses, including relevance to project
work, unit and monthly costs. List the total budget allocated to operation expenses. Note: Do
not include indirect expenses related to the general operation of your organization. Funds cannot
be used to cover conference travel or lodging expenses; expenses related to conferences; and the
provision of food or beverages. See page 5 of the request guidelines for a complete list of
expenses that cannot be covered with subcontract funds.
Personnel
Expenses
Name
Responsibilities Hours/FTE
Purpose
Total Personnel Expenses
Unit Costs
Expenses Source (e.g.
In-kind,
Contract)
Project Director
Staff Positions:
1.
2.
3.
Operating
Expenses
Expenses Source (e.g.
In-kind,
Contract)
1.
2.
3.
Total Other Direct Expenses
Total Expenses
SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS Collegiate Wellness and Recovery Capacity-building Opportunity
40,000
10