DOH 57780-BHIW-VIPS-SFY26-27- Harm Reduction Expansion Project

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is administering the Ohio Evidence-Based Harm Reduction Expansion Project through funding provided by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) under the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP). This initiative seeks to expand access to harm reduction services for underserved and high-risk populations throughout Ohio, particularly individuals reentering the community from correctional settings and communities facing systemic access barriers due to race, ethnicity, or geography. The initiative will prioritize both urban centers and remote rural regions, with a focus on justice-involved individuals and those impacted by structural health inequities. The project aims to reduce unintentional drug overdose deaths by expanding evidence-based harm reduction activities. Core strategies include distributing culturally and linguistically tailored harm reduction materials, building partnerships with community-based and correctional organizations, and embedding behavioral health and medication-assisted treatment services within bloodborne pathogen prevention programs, such as syringe service programs. The program recognizes the heightened risk of fatal overdose among individuals recently released from incarceration due to disruptions in drug tolerance and lack of linkage to care, and seeks to address these risks through coordinated outreach and rapid service connection. A total of $1.57 million is available, to be distributed across ten awards in three tiers. Each tier corresponds to the number of goals the applicant agrees to implement—Tier I funds one goal, Tier II funds two, and Tier III funds all three. Award ceilings are $90,000, $160,000, and $230,000 respectively, depending on the tier. Each proposal must identify which goals they intend to fulfill and provide a corresponding budget. Funding may be renewed for an additional year contingent upon state appropriations and satisfactory performance. Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments; public and private higher education institutions; nonprofit organizations including community- and faith-based groups; and hospitals. Required qualifications include at least two years of Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) operation, direct or partnered involvement with a syringe services program, and demonstrated experience working with vulnerable populations. Applicants must also show experience linking individuals to care, addressing stigma, and providing culturally competent services. Applications must be submitted via email to Procurement@odh.ohio.gov by 3:00 p.m. ET on November 7, 2025. All required components, including the technical and cost proposals, must be clearly labeled and complete upon submission. The inquiry period for potential applicants runs from October 1 through October 28, 2025, during which questions may be submitted to the same email address with “DOH57780 Inquiry” in the subject line. Contracts will begin December 1, 2025 and run through September 30, 2026. Proposals will be scored based on applicant qualifications, experience, work plan alignment, and the cultural competency of staff. Recurrence is anticipated on an annual basis, with the next cycle expected to open in October 2026.

Clearly align goals and tier selection; include strong partnerships with correctional and community-based entities; tailor materials to target populations