Peer Operated Centers Program

The Peer Operated Centers grant opportunity, issued by the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), aims to support community-based nonprofit organizations in establishing or expanding peer-operated centers (POCs) for individuals living with opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or stimulant use disorder (STUD). This funding is aligned with the District’s strategic opioid response plan, LIVE.LONG.DC, and is financed through the District of Columbia’s State Opioid Response (SOR) Program under federal award No. TI-22-005, authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020. Peer Operated Centers are designed to serve as safe, supportive, and accessible spaces for individuals and families affected by OUD/STUD. These centers offer non-clinical, recovery-oriented services that are peer-led, emphasizing long-term recovery, wellness, and harm reduction. Applicants must deliver programming to at least 60 individuals with OUD/STUD per month and collaborate with behavioral health providers, including those authorized to deliver medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Other required activities include naloxone distribution, facilitating support groups at local shelters, community outreach to families, and becoming certified as a DBH Recovery Support Service Provider. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are physically located in the District of Columbia. They must also have at least two years of relevant experience, a leadership team with lived experience in behavioral health, and a demonstrated capacity to launch services within 30 days of award. Organizations must be accessible to people with disabilities and capable of operating during evenings and weekends. Applications must be submitted electronically to DBH.Grants@dc.gov by 12:00 PM ET on Friday, September 19, 2025. A virtual pre-application conference will be held via Microsoft Teams at 12:00 PM ET on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Letters of Intent to Apply are due by Friday, August 29, 2025. The anticipated performance period is from October 15, 2025, through September 29, 2026. Applicants must submit a complete application package, including the project narrative, staffing plan, budget justification, and multiple certifications and organizational documents. Applications missing any required components will not be reviewed. Proposals will be evaluated on organizational capacity, community need, strategic approach, evaluation plan, and budget justification. Scoring is out of 100 points, with the heaviest weight given to strategic approach (45 points) and organizational capacity (30 points). Successful applicants will be notified after the completion of DBH’s internal and external review panels. Grant awards are contingent upon availability of funds and satisfactory pre-award assessments. For more information, applicants can contact the program manager, Orlando Fox, at orlando.fox@dc.gov or (202) 673-2291. Fiscal questions may be directed to Tywana Reed at tywana.reed@dc.gov. This funding is non-renewable beyond its performance period unless otherwise stated, and continuation is not guaranteed. DBH reserves the right to cancel, amend, or reissue this RFA at its discretion.

Submit application at least 24 hours early to avoid technical issues. Ensure all attachments use provided templates and conform to formatting rules.