Key for Acquisition Type (alpha order):
RFA = Request for Application
RFB = Request for Bid
RFI = Request for Information
RFP = Request for Proposal
Overview
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to support suicide prevention programming focused on building capacity of health and behavioral health care systems through quality improvement of clinical care.
The intended geographic area to be covered is the entire state.
The population of focus is adults with serious mental illness (SMI). Adults with SMI are a priority population under the original funding source for this grant, the federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant. Federal law defines adults with SMI as people age 18 and over, who currently or at any time during the past year have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and the diagnosable disorder has resulted in functional impairment which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.
Resources
The following resources are available to provide guidance in preparing applications:
- Suicide in Wisconsin data dashboard
- DHS Suicide Prevention webpages
- Zero Suicide framework for safer suicide care
- Wisconsin’s Suicide Prevention Plan: Strategies for Action and Hope
- 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center: About Lived Experience
Eligible applicants
- Federally recognized Tribal nation that shares boundaries with Wisconsin OR
- Nonprofit organization providing services to people in Wisconsin OR
- Public agency in Wisconsin
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
May 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
1
Estimated award amount(s)
$225,000 per awardee per year
Total funding available
$1,125,000
Anticipated length of funding opportunity
5 years
Anticipated contract dates
October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027
October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2028
October 1, 2028 – September 30, 2029
October 1, 2029 – September 30, 2030
October 1, 2030 – September 30, 2031Renewal of the contract each year will be based upon the awardee’s satisfactory performance, satisfactory completion of annual deliverables and grant expectations, audit findings, and the availability of funds.
Match requirement
None
Funding source
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
Written questions due
April 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Suicide Prevention.
Answers posted
April 24, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
June 29, 2026 (estimated)
Award statement
Award(s) will be made to the responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:
- Attains the highest scored application.
- Best meets the needs of the population of focus.
- Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.
Application requirements
Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.
There is a 10-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.
Application scoring rubric
Applications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale listed below. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.
- Program design: 20 points
- Capacity: 20 points
- Experience and knowledge: 20 points
- Grant priorities: 30 points
- Priority one: 20 points
- Priority two: 10 points
- Required documents: 10 points
Narrative response
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- Use a page size of 8.5” x 11”
- Use a black font size of at least 11-point
Arial and Times New Roman are the recommended fonts for the narrative response.
The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
Describe how the program purpose and requirements will be met.
- Address the needs of the population of focus: adults with SMI.
- Explain your approach or philosophy toward:
- “Suicide care,” which refers to a systematic, evidence-based approach in clinical settings to identify, assess, treat, and support people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or actions.
- Reaching health and behavioral health care systems and assessing their needs.
- Building capacity through implementation of quality improvement measures.
- Providing training, technical assistance, and on-demand learning opportunities.
- Explain how the program will be accessible throughout the state.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.
Describe capacity to implement the program design.
- New or existing staff positions that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position.
- Recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions.
- Continuation of the program if there is turnover in staff.
- Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:
- The extent of the relationship.
- How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
- Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
- Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).
Maximum points available for this section: 20
Describe experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with health care systems, as well as with adults with SMI or similar populations.
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge.
If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge.
Describe the relevant training and professional development staff and/or subcontracted staff will receive over the anticipated total funding period.
Maximum points available for this section: 30
For each priority, describe the:
- Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority.
- Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
- Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
- Measurable impact: Describe how you will measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clients, etc.).
Priority one
Maximum points available for priority one: 20
Increase capacity of health and behavioral health care systems through quality improvement of clinical suicide care, including by providing training, technical assistance, and resources on evidence-based and best practices.
Priority two
Maximum points available for priority two: 10
Create a set of recommendations for suicide care in Wisconsin-based clinical settings by August 2029.
- Explain your process for developing and promoting the recommendations.
- Include how you will get input and guidance from others, including those with clinical expertise, as well as people with suicide-centered lived experience (attempt and loss).
Maximum points available for this section: 10
Applications must also include the following documents:
- IRS Form W-9 (PDF).
- DCTS Summary Line item Budget: Condensed, F-01601C (Excel). This is a provisional budget for application purposes. A more detailed budget will be required of the awardee.
- Letters of commitment (required from each project partner with an active role in the program). Do not include letters of support; they will not be considered.
The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.
Reporting requirements
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Performance reporting completed two times a year with due dates that will be set in writing by DHS.
- Expense reporting submitted on a timeline and in a format approved by DHS.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. May 15, 2026.
Applications must include the narrative response and the additional documents outlined in the application requirements section.
By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the Grant Funding Opportunities: Definitions and Legal Requirements are part of this funding opportunity.
Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Suicide Prevention.