Mail Order Overdose Prevention Program

Maximum points available for this section: 25

Describe how the program requirements will be met.

• Explain how the program will address the needs of the population of focus.
• Provide details on how the program will be fully functional and operating by November 1, 2026.
• Outline how the program will protect confidentiality of participants and provide mail order supplies discreetly.
• Explain how the program will ensure the provision of linguistically and culturally relevant instructions, educational, and resource materials.
• Provide details on a strategic effort to increase visibility and awareness about the program, prioritizing communities who have no to limited access to overdose prevention supplies.

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.

• List new or existing staff positions that will work under this grant and the anticipated full-time equivalents for each position.
• If hiring new positions, describe the recruitment process and the anticipated timeline.
• Explain how the agency will ensure the program continues if there is turnover in staff.
• Outline other resources/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 the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if your efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.

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 people who are using or have used drugs to implement programs that affect them.
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if your efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.

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 total

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 clientele, etc.).

Priority one

Maximum points available for priority one: 15 points

Increase access to overdose prevention supplies across Wisconsin by ensuring low-barrier, confidential access to naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strip kits, and other overdose prevention education and resource materials with a focus on areas with no to limited access to overdose prevention services.

Priority two

Maximum points available for priority two: 15 points

Promote and raise awareness about program services and ensure services are reaching the population of focus.

Question 1: How should we break down the data of funding being used, and how would we report it?

Answer 1: Per the reporting requirements section of the funding opportunity, reporting requirements are defined as follows:

• Performance reporting completed five times in the year with due dates that will be set in writing.
• Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
• Data submitted monthly through an online tool managed by DHS.

Question 2: Are organizations without medical licensure eligible if services are non-clinical?

Answer 2: Per the eligible applicants section of the funding opportunity, eligible applicants are defined as:

• A federally recognized Tribal nation located and providing services in Wisconsin.
• A public agency located and providing services in Wisconsin.
• A nonprofit organization located and providing services in Wisconsin.

Question 3: May grant-funded harm reduction supplies (such as test kits) also be distributed at our location, resource tables, community events, or outreach activities, or must all supplies be distributed exclusively through the mail-order component?

Answer 3: Per the overview of the funding opportunity, the Wisconsin Mail Order Overdose Prevention Program is intended to provide overdose prevention supplies including naloxone and drug checking kits through a confidential online ordering platform and discrete mail delivery system. It is not intended for distribution of overdose prevention supplies through resource tables, community events, or outreach activities.

Question 4: Can the mail order harm reduction component be implemented through an organization’s existing website, or is a separate website or ordering platform required? Are grant funds allowable for website development and maintenance? Is there a preferred or required tech/ordering platform?

Answer 4: It is up to the agency to determine if the confidential online ordering platform is provided through an existing website or new website. Program funding is allowed to support website development and maintenance. DHS will not provide a standardized platform, domain, or template for the mail order overdose prevention program.

Question 5: How should programs track distribution while protecting participants confidentiality?

Answer 5: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are asked to outline how the program will protect confidentiality of participants and provide mail order supplies discreetly.

Question 6: After award, how are harm reduction supplies expected to be procured?

Answer 6: Per the overview of the funding opportunity, the awarded agency will be included in the Division of Care and Treatment Services Naloxone Direct Program and will be provided 3 mg nasal naloxone, 4 mg nasal naloxone, and two dose intramuscular naloxone kits at no cost to support the mail order program. Fentanyl and xylazine test strip kit supplies (each test strip kit is to include a test strip, a micro scoop, a vial of sterile water, a mixing tin, and instructions) must be purchased, assembled, and provided by the awarded agency.

Question 7: Are there restrictions on quantity per shipment or per participant?

Answer 7: Per the overview of the funding opportunity, this program is an opportunity to expand services and prevent overdose deaths in communities that are not otherwise receiving services. Additionally noted in the overview of the funding opportunity, this program is not to provide direct supplies to agencies or organizations.

Question 8: Will mailing and packaging supplies (envelopes, boxes, discreet packaging, postage) be provided by DHS, or is the awardee expected to source these independently?

If independently sourced, are these costs allowable under the grant?

Answer 8: DHS will not provide mailing and packaging supplies. Packaging supplies could be a budgeted item and described in the budget narrative.

Question 9: Could DHS provide additional details regarding required data collection and reporting for this grant?

Answer 9: Per the reporting requirements section of the funding opportunity, recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:

• Performance reporting completed five times in the year with due dates that will be set in writing.
• Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
• Data submitted monthly through an online tool managed by DHS.

Question 10: Are there requirements for age or identity verification?

Answer 10: There are no requirements for age or identity verification for the Wisconsin Mail Order Overdose Prevention Program.

Question 11: Are anonymous or low-barrier data collection methods acceptable?

Answer 11: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are expected to outline how the program will protect confidentiality of participants and provide mail order supplies discreetly.

Question 12: How should mail order distributions be documented while protecting participant confidentiality?

Answer 12: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are expected to outline how the program will protect confidentiality of participants and provide mail order supplies discreetly.

Question 13: Is this grant intended to serve a specific priority population (e.g. people who use drugs, rural communities, underserved or marginalized populations), or is the general population eligible to receive services?

Answer 13: Per the funding opportunity overview, mail order programs lower barriers to accessing services including cost, transportation, and hours of operation. These programs can also significantly reduce or eliminate fear and stigma by allowing individuals to receive naloxone, test strip kits, and education and resource materials discreetly at a location they designate. This program is an opportunity to expand services and prevent overdose deaths in communities that are not otherwise receiving services.

Question 14: Will DHS provide standardized educational or harm reduction materials (including multilingual resources), or is the awardee expected to develop their own? Are there content or language requirements? Are translation and printing costs allowable?

Answer 14: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are expected to describe how the program will ensure the provision of linguistically and culturally relevant instructions, educational, and resource materials. Translation services and printing costs in alignment with the intent of these funds is allowable.

Question 15: Does DHS prioritize or encourage peer-led, low-barrier harm reduction models within this grant, particularly for individuals not currently engaged in formal treatment services?

Answer 15: Per the funding opportunity overview, mail order programs lower barriers to accessing services including cost, transportation, and hours of operation. These programs can also significantly reduce or eliminate fear and stigma by allowing individuals to receive naloxone, test strip kits, and education and resource materials discreetly at a location they designate. This program is an opportunity to expand services and prevent overdose deaths in communities that are not otherwise receiving services. Section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity requests applicants to describe how the program will address the needs of the population of focus.

Question 16: Are there state or federal compliance requirements applicants should be aware of?

Answer 16: By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page.

Question 17: Does DHS provide guidance or technical assistance around legal risk for mail order distribution?

Answer 17: While DHS provides technical assistance to awardees, DHS does not provide legal advice or guidance.

Question 18: Are there insurance or liability requirements for the awardee?

Answer 18: DHS will request a certificate of insurance from the awarded applicant upon award.

Question 19: We are a certified personal agency, which I assume is not considered a public agency, can you clarify? If not, are we able to subcontract with an eligible company or establish a new nonprofit to apply directly by 02/16/2026?

Answer 19: Per the funding opportunity, eligible applicants include:

• Federally recognized Tribal nation located and providing services in Wisconsin
• Public agency located and providing services in Wisconsin
• Nonprofit organization located and providing services in Wisconsin

For clarification on these terms, refer to the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page.

Question 19: Can DHS share any available data or estimates on the average number of mail order requests fulfilled per month or quarter under the current program? Will there be an opportunity for transition planning or information sharing from the current program administrator to the selected awardee?

Answer 19: DHS does not currently support a mail order overdose prevention program; therefore, DHS does not have program data to share.

Question 20: Are funds reimbursed based on expenses incurred or advanced at the beginning of the contract period?

Answer 20: Funds are provided to grantees through a reimbursement process based on allowable and actual expenses.

Question 21: Are there any restrictions on allowable costs or limits on administrative/overhead expenses that applicants should be aware of?

Answer 21: By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page.

Question 22: Are there specific spending or budget reporting deadlines throughout the contract year? Will DHS provide reporting templates or guidance for the required expense reporting and performance reports? How often does performance need to be reported?

Answer 22: Per the reporting requirements section in the funding opportunity, recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:

• Performance reporting completed five times in the year with due dates that will be set in writing.
• Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
• Data submitted monthly through an online tool managed by DHS.

Question 23: Are there expectations for language access requirements beyond English (e.g., Spanish, Hmong)?

Answer 23: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are asked to explain how the program will ensure the provision of linguistically and culturally relevant instructions, educational, and resource materials.

Question 24: Does DHS anticipate renewal beyond this one-year contract? What would be needed for renewal consideration?

Answer 24: Per the overview of the funding opportunity, the anticipated length of the funding opportunity is one year.

Question 25: Is the program expected to include naloxone only, or does DHS anticipate inclusion of fentanyl and/or xylazine test strips and educational materials at program launch?

Answer 25: Per the introduction sentence of the funding opportunity overview, the Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to support a Mail Order Overdose Prevention Program that provides overdose prevention supplies including naloxone and drug checking kits through a confidential online ordering platform and discrete mail delivery system.

Question 26: Is DHS expecting full statewide service availability immediately upon launch, or would a phased rollout be acceptable if full statewide coverage is achieved by the November 1, 2026, deadline?

Answer 26: Per the funding opportunity overview, the mail order overdose prevention program must be fully functional and operating by November 1, 2026.

Question 27: Are there Wisconsin-specific standing orders, licensing, or compliance requirements DHS expects applicants or vendors to meet for naloxone distribution beyond federal naloxone access laws?

Answer 27: By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page.

Question 28: Are there known state, federal, or carrier-specific restrictions related to mailing naloxone or drug-checking supplies that applicants should account for in their logistics plans?

Answer 28: The applicant should seek this information out from the carriers themselves; DHS cannot speak to the specific restrictions of all carriers.

Question 29: For data privacy standards, what minimum participant data elements are required for reporting, and are there specific data elements DHS recommends not collecting in order to maintain low-barrier, confidential access?

Answer 29: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are expected to outline how the program will protect confidentiality of participants and provide mail order supplies discreetly.

Question 30: For accessibility and language access, are there specific ADA, mobile optimization, or language access standards that DHS will prioritize during scoring?

Answer 30: Per section 1, program design, of the funding opportunity, applicants are expected to describe how the program will ensure the provision of linguistically and culturally relevant instructions, educational, and resource materials.

Question 31: Is identity or address verification required for participants, or should the ordering system be intentionally low-barrier and trust-based?

Answer 31: This is not a requirement of the funding opportunity.

Question 32: Are there any restrictions on outreach methods (e.g., social media promotion, QR codes, peer referrals, or community-based distribution of flyers)?

Answer 32: All outreach plans and materials must be approved by DHS prior to implementation.

Question 33: Will DHS require state branding on materials and platforms, or may providers operate under their own program identity with DHS acknowledgment?

Answer 33: All materials and platforms must be approved by DHS prior to implementation.

Question 34: For community partnerships, does DHS assign additional scoring weight to applications that include formal letters of commitment or MOUs from community-based harm reduction partners?

Answer 34: Per the application requirements, letters of commitment are required from each project partner with an active role in the program.

Question 35: Is DHS open to variable cost models (per order or per kit pricing) as long as total expenditures remain within the annual award amount?

Answer 35: Funds are provided to grantees through a reimbursement process based on allowable and actual expenses.

Question 36: What is DHS’s policy regarding unspent funds at the end of the contract period—may they roll over, or must they be returned? Does DHS anticipate this program being renewed annually using opioid settlement funds, contingent on performance and available funding?

Answer 36: Per the funding opportunity overview, the anticipated length of this funding opportunity is one year.