FY 2024: Naloxone Distribution Grant Opportunity

The OAFC seeks to combat opioid overdoses in Texas by awarding funds to one applicant to implement a statewide program that will distribute the Federal Drug Administration-approved opioid overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, where it is needed most and provide related training, including airway clearance techniques.

Up to $25 million is available for this grant opportunity. Approximately $18.75 million of that amount is available to purchase naloxone and provide related training, with nearly $3.13 million for administrative costs and another $3.13 million for interventions in targeted counties. The funds are to be divided among regional healthcare partnership regions and targeted counties as outlined in the NOFA. The OAFC will award grant funds to the grantee through reimbursement for eligible costs.

The funds for this grant opportunity come from settlement agreements with companies involved in lawsuits related to the opioid crisis in Texas. A portion of these settlements is deposited into the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund for the OAFC to fund targeted strategies. Read more about Texas’ opioid abatement settlements.

The expected term of the grant agreement is an initial two years with the possibility of three two-year renewal periods, for a total project length of eight years. The OAFC may renew the grant agreement; however, no additional funds will be awarded for the renewal periods. The OAFC may also terminate a grant agreement sooner, as described in the NOFA.

Texas governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and any other entity that engages in business in the state of Texas by (a) maintaining employees in the state of Texas, (b) having a fixed place of business in the state of Texas, or (c) providing any service in the state of Texas, whether or not individuals performing the service are residents of the state. Funding will be awarded to one applicant to implement the program statewide. Applicants may use qualified subcontractors or subgrantees, in accordance with any applicable laws, to implement the program.

Companies that paid funds or currently are involved in opioid abatement lawsuits are disqualified from applying. Applicants and subcontractors also must not be subject to the general disqualifications described in the NOFA, such as being included on the debarred vendor’s list or having a conflict of interest with the OAFC (Our Conflict of Interest Form will be available on March 6th).

A conflict of interest exists when an OAFC member is employed by the grant applicant or has a direct or indirect financial interest in the grant. Conflicts of interest may also exist within the grant applicant’s network of subgrantees and subcontractors, if any, that will perform any work described in the grant agreement. The grant applicant may submit a written request (PDF) for the OAFC’s non-binding, preliminary review of any potential conflict of interest by March 18, 2024, before submitting an application. By submitting its grant application, a grant applicant certifies that, to the best of its knowledge, a grant award would not create a conflict of interest on behalf of a current OAFC member. After applying, there will not be an opportunity to amend the application in response to a conflict of interest.

Grant applicants must complete an application form, including fully developed and detailed proposals and budgets, through the OAFC’s grant management system (available on March 5th). All information received by the Comptroller’s office or OAFC related to grant applications becomes the property of the state of Texas and subject to public disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act. Completed applications cannot be edited after submission, except for minor administrative errors. The internet browser that works best with the grant management system is Google Chrome.

May 7, 2024, is the deadline for submitting grant applications.

Applications will go through a multi-stage selection process. First, applications will be reviewed for completeness and satisfaction of the NOFA requirements. Then, applications will be evaluated and scored on the criteria outlined in the NOFA, such as experience, proposed timeline, cost-effectiveness and capacity by an independent peer review panel. A pre-award risk review will also be conducted as described in the NOFA. After the review process is complete, the OAFC will review the applications and evaluations from the peer review panel and vote on the final grant award.

Following the selection process, OAFC will issue a notice of award to the selected grant applicant. The grant recipient must finalize and execute the grant agreement within 30 days of receipt.

If awarded funds, the grant recipient must submit timely detailed status reports that cover the grant recipient’s and any subgrantee’s performance, expenditures and any additional information OAFC requests. Status reports will be submitted monthly for the first year of the grant agreement and quarterly thereafter. A project closeout report also will be completed within 60 days of project completion. OAFC, Comptroller’s office staff or any third party acting on behalf of the Comptroller’s office also may conduct site visits during the project and after project completion to monitor progress and assess program effectiveness.

For more information or specific questions regarding this grant opportunity, contact the OAFC. Questions must be submitted by March 18, 2024, to ensure a response before the application deadline.