2026 DOSC Round 4 - General Grant (Over $30,000)

Community Grant Program
General Grant Category ($30,000+)
Introduction
The General Grant is the cornerstone funding mechanism of the Commission’s Opioid Abatement Community Grant Program, awarding investments of $30,000 or more to qualified, experienced organizations dedicated to addressing opioid and substance use disorders. Designed for initiatives requiring medium-to-high funding levels, these grants empower impactful, evidence-based programs over a performance period of up to two years. Eligible applicants must possess a minimum of two years of operational history, a proven track record of executing similar initiatives, robust organizational management capabilities, and a demonstrated readiness to provide comprehensive financial and performance reporting documentation.
By satisfying these rigorous institutional standards, the proposed project directly aligns with the Commission’s mandate for responsible resource allocation and sustainable, community-focused interventions within Delaware. Funding through this General Grant will be instrumental in enabling this project to advance the state's overarching objectives: expanding access to clinical care, implementing large-scale harm reduction and prevention strategies, and strengthening statewide recovery networks.

Eligibility Criteria
Organizations applying for General Grant support must satisfy the following institutional and programmatic eligibility requirements:

Organizational Capacity & Governance:
• Legal Status: Applicants must be formally registered, legally incorporated entities (e.g., nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental) operating within the State of Delaware.
• Operational History: Organizations must possess a minimum of two years of consistent program delivery and documented operational stability, free of significant legal or functional liabilities.
• Prior Performance & Compliance: For previous Commission grantees, past performance, contract fidelity, and strict compliance with prior grant requirements will be heavily factored into the eligibility determination and evaluation process.
• Governance & Leadership: Governance structures must be transparent, accountable, and possess verified leadership expertise directly relevant to the proposed program.
• Staffing Capacity: Applicants must maintain a qualified, well-organized professional team with the operational capacity required for effective, large-scale program execution.

Financial Management & Sustainability:
• Financial Stability & Health: Applicants must demonstrate a documented history of sound fiscal management, healthy financial positioning, and the internal controls necessary to manage significant grant funds effectively.
• Financial Readiness: Organizations must present detailed financial planning documents, including a comprehensive, math-verified project budget worksheet.
• Sustainability Planning: Applicants must articulate long-term financial viability and strategic plans to sustain program impact beyond the lifecycle of the grant.

Programmatic Alignment & Evidence-Based Design:
• Strategic Priority Alignment: Proposed initiatives must directly align with the active funding cycle's core priorities and address clearly identified community needs utilizing localized data and stakeholder input.
• Service Delivery Approach: Programs must utilize evidence-based practices, promising practices, or highly justified innovative methods supported by peer-reviewed research and data.
• Strategic Collaboration: Organizations should demonstrate existing or planned partnerships with cross-sector stakeholders to broaden program reach, prevent duplication, and maximize community impact.

Accountability, Equity, & Technical Engagement:
• Reporting Standards: Applicants must formally commit to rigorous, regular reporting schedules covering program activities, quantitative outcomes, and detailed financial expenditures.
• Commitment to Equity: Organizations must actively prioritize diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in their program design and outreach workflows, specifically targeting historically underserved or marginalized populations.
**• Technical Cooperation:**Grantees must remain open and willing to actively engage in capacity-building technical assistance to optimize program implementation and ensure regulatory compliance.

Settlement Fund Statutory Restrictions:
• Non-Supplantation: Opioid settlement funds must strictly supplement, not supplant (replace), existing funding or resources earmarked for the proposed project.
• Exhibit E & OARS Compliance: The proposed scope of work must align explicitly with one or more of the approved uses outlined in Exhibit E of the Final Distributor Settlement Agreement and the Delaware Opioid Abatement and Remediation Strategies (OARS) framework.
• Commission Strategic Priorities: In alignment with statewide data and identified intervention gaps, the Commission prioritizes investments directed toward underserved populations, innovative prevention/treatment modalities, and long-term recovery support systems.
• Pre-Award Costs: Grant funds may not be used to reimburse operational or administrative costs incurred prior to the official execution date of the grant term.

Application Timeline
Eligible organizations are invited to submit applications for the Community Grants Program exclusively through our online portal in Bonfire.

• Release of Solicitation - Wednesday, July 1, 2026 - 8:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session I - Wednesday, July 8, 2026 - 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session II - Thursday, July 16, 2026 -10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session III - Friday, July 24, 2026 - 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
• Application Deadline - Wednesday, August 12, 2026 -2:00 PM

Required Application Documentation Checklist
In addition to completing all fields within the online Grant Application Form, applicants must upload the following mandatory documents via Bonfire. Failure to provide required materials may result in disqualification.
Administrative & Legal Identity:
• Articles of Incorporation or Legal Registration
• Organizational Bylaws
• IRS Tax Exemption Certification (For 501(c)(3) nonprofits)
• Active Applicable Licenses or Professional Certifications (If applicable)
Financial Health & Risk Assessment:
• Comprehensive Project Budget Workbook (Utilizing the mandatory template)
• Proof of Financial Stability (Prior fiscal year year-end financial statement, complete tax returns, or an independent audited financial review)
• Auditing Protocols and Internal Fiscal Control Documentation
Compliance & Community Alignment:
• Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
• Confidential Information Form
• Executed Non-Collusion Statement
• Two (2) Letters of Support or Testimonials from community stakeholders
• Annual Report and/or Program Summary (Optional)
• Supplanting Guidance Form

Application Review & Selection Process
To ensure absolute fairness, transparency, and consistency, the Commission utilizes a multi-phase evaluation framework. All review panels comprise Commission staff, Commission members, and community representatives with lived experience, all of whom are strictly screened for actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Phase 1 | Initial Technical Review: Upon submission, applications undergo an administrative compliance screening to verify that all mandatory documentation is present and aligned with Exhibit E and OARS requirements. Applicants with missing materials will be formally notified and granted a strict one-week cure period to submit the required items; failure to do so will result in immediate disqualification.

Phase 2 | Evaluation and Standardized Scoring: Applications clearing the technical review proceed to formal evaluation under a standardized scoring rubric. Each proposal is independently evaluated by a minimum of three reviewers. Individual scores are averaged to establish a baseline. Major point variances or significant scoring discrepancies between panel reviewers are flagged for collaborative reconciliation.

Phase 3 | Priority Alignment and Portfolio Balancing: The Commission strongly encourages proposals that target high-need geographic areas (ZIP codes with the highest overdose rates) or high-risk demographics (such as reentrants or individuals experiencing housing insecurity). While extra points are not awarded, aligning with these priorities is heavily considered during our review. This approach allows us to build a balanced statewide portfolio that closes service gaps across prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services.

Final Decision & Approval | The full Commission will convene to cast final votes on funding recommendations based on verified evaluation scores and the strategic priorities of the current grant cycle. Following the evaluation period, the full Commission will vote on applications on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Reporting & Compliance Requirements
Grant recipients must submit regular data and performance milestones. This ensures fiscal accountability and quantifies community-level impact. Additionally, grantees are required to participate in regular check-ins and site visits with assigned Commission staff.

Our Commitment to Equity and Innovation
In alignment with the Commission's core mandate, these grants are strategically designed to empower organizations serving historically underrepresented, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. By deploying these resources, we seek to fill critical service gaps, complement existing statewide initiatives without supplanting them, and foster a highly coordinated, data-driven response to the opioid crisis. The Commission prioritizes innovative intervention models, proactive capacity building, and sustainable strategies capable of driving measurable, long-term change across Delaware.
We encourage you to review all application criteria thoroughly and provide detailed, data-supported narratives demonstrating your program’s potential and alignment with our mission. Should you require technical support or guidance during the application window, access to our FAQ repositories, instructional webinars, and one-on-one technical assistance is readily available.

Thank you for your tireless dedication to combating the opioid epidemic and enhancing the health, recovery, and well-being of Delaware's communities. We look forward to evaluating your proposal and learning more about your impact.

Bid #: US.235603 · RFA · FY 2026