SOI 1234 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

The New York State Office of Children & Family Services (OCFS) is inviting eligible organizations to participate in the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) through its Solicitation of Interest (SOI) 1234. OCFS is a state agency dedicated to the well-being of children and families across New York, and through this funding opportunity, aims to increase access to early literacy resources by expanding participation in the nationally recognized DPIL program. This initiative focuses on distributing free, age-appropriate books to children from birth to age five through a network of local partners known as Local Program Partners. This opportunity is backed by a $1 million appropriation from the New York State Legislature. The available grant funds are designed to subsidize up to 50% of the monthly costs incurred by Local Program Partners for distributing books and mailing services, which typically average $2.60 per child, per month. Each grant award must fall between $2,000 and $50,000, and requires a one-to-one match from the applicant. The funds are intended strictly for covering costs billed by the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, and all awarded organizations are required to deposit the full awarded amount with the DPIL and submit corresponding documentation within 30 days of payment release. A final report is also due upon full expenditure of funds or by March 15, 2028, whichever comes first. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to entities authorized to do business in New York State and that have a Memorandum of Agreement with DPIL to serve New York children. Eligible applicants must be either a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, public library, library system, school district, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Not-for-profit applicants are also required to be prequalified in the New York State Grants Gateway at the time of application, unless exempt. Governmental entities, although not required to prequalify, must still be registered in the Statewide Financial System. The application process consists of two required steps. First, applicants must complete an online administrative form to initiate their application and receive an application number. Second, they must submit required documentation—including the completed application form, a signed participation certification, and proof of their Memorandum of Agreement with Dollywood—via email to the OCFS procurement office. Optional documents such as the MWBE EEO Policy Statement and Substitute W-9 may be required post-award. Submissions are accepted only via email; faxed or physical applications will not be considered. The submission window opens on April 9, 2026, and all applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. ET on April 30, 2026. Applications will be reviewed internally by OCFS staff. Priority is given first to applicants proposing to serve populations with the highest percentage of children below the poverty level, followed by the order in which applications are received. Awards will be made until the total $1 million allocation is exhausted. This solicitation does not guarantee funding and OCFS reserves the right to make partial awards or decline applications based on suitability and available funds. The contract term for awarded grantees is expected to last up to one year, beginning no earlier than November 1, 2026 and no later than March 1, 2027. During this period, awarded organizations are required to implement or expand their Local Program Partner efforts according to the terms of their Memorandum of Agreement with DPIL. For questions, applicants may contact the Director of Contracts at OCFS via email at [email protected]. The full solicitation, including required attachments and supporting documents, is available on the NYS Contract Reporter and the OCFS funding website.