Cumberland County is requesting proposals from nonprofit organizations for projects that will help the Cumberland County community respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong and equitable manner.
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the County was awarded $65.2 million in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The Board of Commissioners approved allocating $3.5 million in funding to nonprofit organizations that conduct programs and projects that help the county recover from and respond to COVID-19 and its negative impacts.
The County is soliciting funding requests for this one-time funding through a formal competitive Request for Proposal process. The RFP is posted on County’s ARP webpage at cumberlandcountync.gov/ARP and under the Vendor Self Service page (Bid #391).
Submissions are due Feb. 28 at 4:30 p.m.
The County will hold a virtual information workshop on Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m. for interested nonprofit organizations and a video recording of that session will be posted for anyone unable to participate.
Nonprofit organizations will need to identify a health or economic harm resulting from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency and explain how the funding would address that harm; the population served; the proposed impact of the project and how the effort will help build toward a just, equitable and sustainable COVID-19 recovery.
Funded projects must:
- Meet the eligible use of funds for Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, per U.S. Treasury guidance
- Meet the eligible use of funds per the Federal Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance
- Meet a public purpose and fall within County authority to fund per NC General Statutes, to be affirmed and reviewed by the Cumberland County legal department prior to execution of a contract or funding agreement
- Identify and directly address a need or negative impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency
- Support equitable outcomes for most impacted populations
- Leverage and align with other funding sources
- Make best use of this one-time infusion of resources
- Provide performance reporting regarding use of funds and project impact
- Comply with all provisions of the funding contract, including expenditure tracking and federal subrecipient monitoring include costs incurred no earlier than March 3, 2021
- All funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024
- Complete all work and fully expend all funds by December 31, 2026
Nonprofit organizations should direct all questions regarding the Request for Proposals to Lorena Santos, Purchasing Manager, at cumberlandpurchasing@co.cumberland.nc.us or call 910-678-7743.