Public Awareness Grant

The Alabama Council on Developmental Disabilities (ACDD) is releasing its FY2025-03 Public Awareness Request for Proposal (RFP) to support initiatives that enhance public understanding of developmental disabilities and the value of full community inclusion for individuals with these disabilities. The ACDD is funded under federal law and guided by a state executive order, with a mission to promote independence, productivity, advocacy, and inclusion for Alabamians with developmental disabilities. This RFP is one part of the Council’s larger State Plan, under which projects and initiatives are funded to advance the outlined mission. The Council emphasizes that it envisions a state where individuals with developmental disabilities are fully integrated into all aspects of life—living, learning, working, and participating in their communities. Through this RFP, the Council will award up to $50,000 for a 12-month grant period expected to start on October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026. The purpose is to engage an experienced entity in the fields of communications, marketing, advertising, or public relations to execute a variety of public awareness activities. These activities may include website updates and maintenance, photography for Council use, managing and creating content for social media, digital advertising, promoting Council and partner initiatives, designing accessible materials such as newsletters and reports, and providing public relations support for key Council efforts like the Five-Year State Plan. Respondents may also propose additional awareness activities beyond those listed, so long as they align with the Council’s mission. Applicants must also be able to attend Council events, stay up to date on disability-related issues, and provide platform analytics when applicable. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in the relevant fields and preferably have prior work with disability organizations, human services entities, or public sector agencies. Required materials for submission include a cover page using the Project Profile Form, a signed Assurances Form, descriptions of relevant knowledge and experience, four work samples, team qualifications, a proposed public awareness plan with goals and timelines, a completed budget form with justification, and at least three references including contact details and reference letters. All applications must follow specified formatting, including being single-spaced in 12-point font, with consecutively numbered pages. The Council outlines a multi-phase selection process. Proposals will be reviewed for completeness and then scored using a weighted rubric totaling 100 points. Proposals must meet the RFP’s intent and demonstrate quality, cost-efficiency, and statewide impact. The Program Planning Committee will recommend proposals to the Executive Committee, which forwards its final selections to the full Council for approval. Selected applicants will be notified around August 22, 2025. Grantees are required to comply with all relevant state and federal assurances, including non-discrimination, individualized services, and accessibility standards. All awarded projects must include a mutually agreed-upon Project Management Plan that serves as the contract deliverable. Applicants are required to register with the Alabama Secretary of State and enroll in both E-Verify and the State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System (STAARS). Matching funds of at least 25% of the total project budget are required and can be in the form of in-kind or non-federal cash contributions. The maximum allowed indirect cost rate is 8%. The final application packet must be submitted by 12:01 PM Central Time on August 5, 2025. Submissions must include one original and five hard copies plus an electronic file on a USB flash drive. Electronic submissions by email or fax will not be accepted. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted by July 14, 2025, and responses will be posted by July 21, 2025.

Proposals must follow strict formatting rules and meet submission deadlines.