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 the use of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) model.
The SOAR model is designed to enhance access to SSI and SSDI benefits for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness, particularly those with serious mental illnesses or co-occurring disorders.
The SOAR model is based on the following five components to improve the outcome for individuals to receive benefits:
- Serving as the applicant's representative
- Collecting and submitting medical records
- Writing and submitting a Medical Summary Report
- Obtaining a co-signature on the Medical Summary Report by an acceptable medical source
- Completing a quality review of applications prior to submission
The following items are required for applications for this funding opportunity:
- Employ at least one staff member who is SOAR certified at time of application. A signed certificate of completion must be included with the application for each staff member who has completed the SOAR training course in person or online.
- Note: The SOAR certification training is no longer available due to the closing of the national SOAR Technical Assistance Center. Applicants who do not currently have at least one SOAR certified individual on staff will not be considered due to possible delays in hiring staff who are SOAR certified.
- Must use all five components of the SOAR model.
- Must have a success rate of at least 55% of all applications submitted (either on initial application, reconsideration, or appeal) if an applicant is currently operating program using the SOAR model.
- Complete at least 34 SOAR applications annually using the SOAR model. Initial, reconsidered, and appealed SOAR applications are all considered application types. Any combination of 34 initial, reconsiderations, or appealed applications meet this expectation.
- Provide SOAR services free of charge to individuals applying for SSI or SSDI benefits.
- Provide appropriate geographic coverage for individuals in Wisconsin who require these services. There are no specific geographic areas identified for this funding, but the geographic areas the applicant lists will be referenced when making the awards.
Eligible applicants
Agencies or organizations that employ at least one staff member who is SOAR certified and are a:
- Nonprofit organization doing business in Wisconsin OR
- Federally recognized Tribal nation in Wisconsin OR
- Public agency in Wisconsin.
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
March 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Applications must include:
- A narrative response (8 page maximum).
- IRS Form W-9 (PDF).
- DCTS Summary Line Item Budget, F-01601C (Excel).
- Signed certificates of completion for each staff member who has successfully completed SOAR training.
Estimated number of awards
4
Estimated award amount(s)
$62,500 per awardee per year
Total funding available
$250,000 per year
$1,250,000 totalAnticipated 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
February 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR).
Answers posted
March 3, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
May 8, 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 an eight-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.
Applications must also include the following additional documents:
- IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
- DCTS Summary Line item Budget, F-01601C (Excel)
- Signed certificates of completion for each staff member who has successfully completed SOAR training.
The additional documents do not count toward the eight-page narrative response page limit.
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: 30
- Capacity: 10
- Sustainability: 15
- Experience and knowledge: 20
- Grant priority: 15
- Required documents: 10
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: 30
Describe how the program requirements will be met.
- Identify the target population to be served (adults, children, or both). Describe how the program will assure that it will meet the needs of these populations. In addition to SSI/SSDI application assistance, describe what other services will be offered to SOAR clients.
- Outline how the potential SOAR clients will access services. Explain the process for outreach, screening, intake, assessment, application completion, and service provision.
- Develop relationships with referring agencies such as hospitals, clinics, housing and homelessness service providers, jails, and other relevant settings.
- Develop or sustain relationships with SSA and Disability Determination Bureau (DDB).
- Outline how your agency will determine the eligibility for SOAR services for each client. In the event that the initial assessment indicates the person is not eligible for SOAR services, describe the alternative services that will be offered.
- Explain how this funding will support SOAR activities in your agency.
- Outline how training for SOAR certification will be provided in the event of hiring new staff. Note: The national training course through the SOAR Technical Assistance Center is no longer available.
Maximum points available for this section: 10
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.
- Describe how the agency will ensure the program continues if there is turnover in staff.
- Describe 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: 15
Describe a sustainability plan for the program using the SOAR model.
- List other current funding or planned funding that would be allocated to the SOAR operations.
- List funds you plan to apply for or use to supplement SOAR operations, including the source, the amount, and how long receipt of funds is expected.
- Explain relationships with funders/potential funders such as hospital systems, foundations, private donors, or other sources.
- Detail the continuation of SOAR services if DHS funding is no longer available in the future.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
If employing at least one staff member that is SOAR certified at time of application, explain experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Writing successful medical summary reports.
- Working with reconsiderations and appeals including the number of successes.
If currently operating a program using the SOAR model, provide:
- The number of staff who has successfully completed the SOAR training course in-person or online.
- Providing training related to evidence-based practices that employed SOAR staff have successfully completed and how it will impact SOAR clients.
- The number of initial applications that have been submitted by your agency and how many of the applications were successfully submitted.
- The success rate of all applications submitted (either on initial application, reconsideration, or appeal) during number of years the program using the SOAR model has been operational.
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.
Maximum points available for this section: 15 total
For the 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
Describe how the program using the SOAR model will address each of the five components for every SSI/SSDI application that is submitted.
The five components of the SOAR model include:
- Serving as the applicant's representative
- Collecting and submitting medical records
- Writing and submitting a Medical Summary Report
- Obtaining a co-signature on the Medical Summary Report by an acceptable medical source, and
- Completing a quality review of applications prior to submission.
Using the SOAR model, the case manager gathers all materials and communicates with SSA and Disability Determination Bureau. Using the five SOAR components, case managers play a central role in gathering complete, targeted, and relevant information for SSA and Disability Determination Bureau, resulting in high-quality SSI/SSDI applications.
Reporting requirements
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Performance reporting completed with due dates that will be set in writing. Performance reporting is required no later than 30 days past the mid-point of the contract period, and no later than 30 days past the contract end date.
- Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
- Data submitted two times a year in a format approved by DHS for initial applications, reconsiderations, and administrative law judge hearings.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. March 24, 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 statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page.
Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR).