Public Health Vending Machines 2024

The Division of Care and Treatment Services is managing this grant funding opportunity.

Summary

• Program focus: Funding to purchase, install, and operate public health vending machines in Wisconsin.
• Application deadline: 11:59 p.m. May 10, 2024
• Eligible applicants: Wisconsin-based tribal nations, county and municipal government agencies, and nonprofit agencies

Background

The Division of Care and Treatment Services has allocated $808,863 from Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant carryover funds to expand harm reduction efforts across state. This funding must be spent by September 30, 2024.

Public health vending machines provide an opportunity to protect and promote the health and safety of people who use drugs. Many people do not seek assistance or services for their drug use due to a fear of being judged and/or arrested. Public health vending machines act as a highly accessible, safe option for people to obtain free lifesaving supplies, including nasal naloxone, intramuscular naloxone, and fentanyl test strips.

The goals of this public health vending machine funding opportunity include:

• Improving the quality of life for people who use drugs by providing free health and safety supplies in communities most impacted by overdoses and overdose deaths.
• Reducing the stigma related to drug use by treating people who use drugs with dignity and respect.

The priority populations for this public health vending machine funding opportunity include:

• People who use drugs who are not currently connected to harm reduction services.
• People who identify as a member of a community disproportionately impacted by Wisconsin’s current drug overdose epidemic, including African Americans and Native Americans.
• People who are likely to witness a drug overdose.

Eligible organizations interested in applying for this funding opportunity should consider the needs of the area they serve and the capacity of their agency to support the placement and operation of a public health vending machine.

The Bloomberg American Health Initiative published a decision making tool to help organizations in their work to determine whether their area is prepared to support a public health vending machine. Use of the Readiness Assessment for Harm Reduction Vending Machines: A Decision Making Tool for Organizations and Communities is not required for the funding opportunity, but many agencies have found it useful for implementation purposes.

Eligible organizations are invited to apply for the following funding packages. Multiple funding packages may be requested in this application.

• Outdoor public health vending machine package: $55,000 per package. This funding must be used to purchase a public health vending machine, naloxone, and fentanyl test strip supplies. Outdoor vending machines are more expensive than indoor vending machines because they are built to create a temperature-controlled environment for the supplies.
• Indoor public health vending machine package: $50,000 per package. This funding must be used to purchase a public health vending machine, naloxone, and fentanyl test strip supplies.
• Public health vending machine resupply package: $45,000 per package. This funding is for organizations previously awarded a public health vending machine through the Division of Care and Treatment Services and only require naloxone and fentanyl test strip supplies to restock it.

The funding amount per package is based on the average cost of one outdoor or indoor public health vending machine and related supplies to initially stock the unit. Successful applicants are responsible for identifying vendors to purchase the public health vending machine(s) and related supplies.

This funding opportunity is separate from other harm reduction programs supported by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Successful applicants will not be enrolled in Wisconsin’s NARCAN® Direct Program and/or Wisconsin’s Fentanyl Test Strip Program. Successful applicants who are not currently enrolled in these programs are encouraged to partner with organizations in these programs to ensure sustainable access to supplies beyond this funding opportunity. Agencies currently enrolled in Wisconsin’s NARCAN® Direct Program and Wisconsin’s Fentanyl Test Strip Direct Program are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity.

Eligibility for funding

Government and nonprofit agencies in Wisconsin are eligible to submit applications for this funding opportunity. This includes tribal nation, county, and municipal health and human services agencies; public health agencies; and social services agencies, as well as community-based nonprofit agencies focused on health and human services, public health, and social services, including syringe service providers, crisis programs, and respite programs.

Funding terms and conditions

Funding awarded under this request for applications can be used to:

• Purchase a public health vending machine.
• Purchase equipment to install and operate a public health vending machine (example: a card reader and machine to create cards for card access only units).
• Purchase supplies to stock a public health vending machine, including naloxone and fentanyl test strips.

The funding awarded under this request for applications may not be used to pay for staff, office supplies, office space, and other items outside of the scope of the program. Additionally, the funding awarded can not be used to pay for supplies already purchased. All harm reduction supplies purchased with this funding must be made available for free to the public.

All funds received through this request for applications must be spent by September 30, 2024. No funds may be carried over past this date.

The Division of Care and Treatment Services may negotiate the terms of the contract with recommended applicants, including the award amount, prior to signing a contract. If contract negotiations cannot be concluded successfully with a recommended applicant, the Division of Care and Treatment Services may terminate contract negotiations with that organization.

The contracts resulting from this request for applications will be between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the awarded organization. Awarded organizations using subcontractors are responsible for ensuring subcontractors abide by all terms and conditions of this funding opportunity.

There is no match requirement for this funding opportunity.

Successful applicants must follow all reporting requirements defined by the Division of Care and Treatment Services. At minimum, successful applicants should be prepared to regularly report a summary of expenditures and the number of supplies distributed through their public health vending machine(s). A final written performance report will be required within 30 days of the end of the contract. A final invoice must be submitted within 45 days of the end of the contract.

Successful applicants may use outside funds to purchase and place other health and wellness supplies in the public health vending machine(s) purchased. Other health and wellness supplies placed in public health vending machines across the country include medication lock bags/boxes, CPR breathing masks, gun locks, and items to promote safer sex.

Funding received under this request for applications cannot be used to purchase other health and wellness supplies. It can only be used for expenses related to purchasing a vending machine, operating it, and stocking it with fentanyl test strips and naloxone.

Application process

Complete the online form linked below to apply for this funding opportunity. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. May 10, 2024. Late applications will not be considered.

Applications will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee based on a 100-point scale. The online form has four parts. See all of the questions (PDF).

Letters of support as well as photos or illustrations of the proposed placement location(s) may be uploaded to this online application form. These items are not required.

Questions

Questions about this request for applications must be submitted by email to the Bureau of Prevention Treatment and Recovery at DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov by April 19, 2024. Answers to the questions will be posted here.