Question:  Can you please clarify the line, “Mini-Grant funds are not intended to support one-time events except those that are tied to larger, ongoing efforts.” (and how that might relate to after prom events or other one-time events). As in, what would constitute enough larger, ongoing efforts to be able to partially pay for an After Prom?

Answer:  The “on-going” efforts would be the efforts identified by your needs assessment and are part of the logic model.  Mini-grant funds cannot be use for after prom or after graduation activities.

Question:  What will be considered the 50% in-kind match. Will volunteer hours count, and if so at what rate per hour? How about meeting space?

Answer: For donated goods,  provide a description and number of items,  date provided, and  the total fair market value of the items.  For facilities,  the published rental rate and hours or dates the facility was used.  For volunteer services, list the number of hours worked,  date(s) of service,  type of service, and  rate of pay.

Question: Can we purchase book shelves and books for our new lending library and summer story time as part of the grant?    

Answer: As long as it pertains to the strategic plan submitted and ad hears to the fiscal agent’s equipment purchasing policy.  If the fiscal agent does not have one, ACT Missouri’s is listed below. 

ACT Missouri’s procurement procedures are in accordance with Federal Law and Standards identified in the Code of Regulations, Section 200.

Uniform Guidance states an entity should uses its own documented procurement procedures provided they conform to Federal regulations.

The subrecipient should have a written procurement policy that outlines the above, and that they follow their own policy and document their compliance.  Copies of policies may be requested by ACT Missouri during the grant period.

If an entity does not have their own procurement policy or isn’t sufficient to meet federal requirements the subrecipient will be covered for the funds ACT Missouri provides to them by agreeing to follow the terms outlined below:

1. 1. 1. If the subrecipients purchase is $3,000 or less the requirement is to spread purchases equitably among suppliers. For example, don’t always buy office supplies from Walmart, but spread purchases to Target, Staples, Office Depot, etc.
      2. If the subrecipients purchase is greater than $3,000 (less than $150,000) the requirement is to get quotes from an adequate number of suppliers. This can be done by looking at prices online or calling for a quote.

Question: Can we can use rent and/or utilities as expenses for the grant?    

Answer: Expenses can be taken out of the grant if it directly relates to the strategic plan submitted.

Question: I have information from a 2016 Behavioral Study, is there a more recent survey or can I use that information?    

Answer: Select this link to view the most recent Missouri Student Survey data from the Missouri Department of Mental Health. https://dmh.mo.gov/ada/rpts/survey.html

Question: May we count the full in-kind match ($2,500) for volunteer/staff time?    

Answer: Yes

Question: Can the mini-grant be used to purchase food if the meeting is under 4 hours? The coalition wants to do lunch and learning classes but the meeting would only be for an hour.

Answer: No, the meeting must be long enough (at least 4 hours) and over a meal time (ex: 8 am, 12 pm, 6 pm.) to be considered for funding.

Question: Can you provide guidance about how scoring works? 

Answer: The following shows how many points can be earned for each section:

• Community Assessment – up to 20 points
• Project Description – up to 20 points
• Logic Model – up to 20 points
• Organizational Experience – up to 10 points
• Budget – up to 30 points

Question: For the purposes of the mini grant application, my assumption is that the acceptable substances to address that fall within “drugs and alcohol” do not include nicotine and in particular e-cigarettes. My assumptions is that drugs means illegal drugs correct?

Answer: It is acceptable to use mini grant funds for the prevention and education for the prevention of nicotine and e-cigarettes. These would be acceptable prevention activities and education as long as the need is shown in the data. 

Question: Could we print new brochures ?

Would we be able to partner with a couple of school organizations to help them help others?   such as “Parents as Teachers” and “Traction”

Answer: Yes, printing is allowed.

Partnerships are encouraged as long as your goals are the similar. 

Question: This is unclear…please explain.  “Provide an explanation of why the coalition is using the amount to match what is being requested.”

Answer: Explain what products, services, meeting space, volunteer time, etc is being used to match 50% of the requested amount. 

Question: Under additional information, the guidelines say that ‘No more than 50% of the budget can be used for advertising and media.’. If the coalition wants to use the mini-grant to fund the purchase of time from a radio station to broadcast an ongoing show on prevention, would that be prohibited under these guidelines, or allowable?

Answer: If a coalition wants to use the grant to purchase time from a radio station to broadcast an ongoing show on prevention no more than 50% of your grant may be applied. This would be considered Advertising/Media.The grant stipulates, no more than 50% of your grant may be applied to Advertising/Media.

Question: Would it be allowable for a coalition to use mini-grant funds to purchase locking medication storage boxes to distribute at educational events, and if so, is there a restriction on what amount or % of the grant dollars that could be used?

Answer: As long as your data identifies this as a need in the community and it is one of many strategies in the strategic plan.  Check with the agency or fiscal agent’s policy on purchasing items of this nature. 

Question: Could mini-grant funds be used to pay for law enforcement coverage in support of the DEA’s bi-annual medication take-back days?

Answer: Mini-grant funds cannot be used for this. 

Question: I saw the question on the website about the points per section, but I wanted to check in again with you about my question I asked about grading within those sections.  Is there anything we can share about why and how sections are scored?  I know it’s helpful for coalitions to know that the budget is worth 30 points and the assessment up to 20, but do you have any guidance or explanation about how or why something might be graded lower?  Is it just if they have all the pieces that are included in, for instance, the assessment description?  Or is there a value to how well each piece of information is addressed within each section?  Or anything else I can share with my coalitions? 

Answer: The points for each section are listed above.  There is value to how well each piece of the grant is addressed in each section.  Feedback can be requested after the grants are scored and awards are made.