Request for Applications (RFA) 24-10181
Increasing Vaccine Confidence Among California Adolescents

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Immunization Branch (IZB) intends to award a total of $200,000 in grant funds to approximately eight (8) qualified organizations (maximum of $25,000 each) for the purpose of increasing vaccine confidence among California adolescents, including those within priority populations. The grants will be awarded in Fall 2024. Project activities and deliverables should be completed by June 30, 2025. See timeline below.

The purpose of this RFA is to solicit applications from eligible entities (EEs) to develop and implement youth engagement and education campaigns to targeted communities and audiences to assist with statewide efforts to improve vaccine confidence and appointment attendance among adolescents across California. Grants will be awarded to community-based organizations (CBOs) to employ, recruit, and train adolescents (ages 14–18) to perform outreach activities which address vaccine hesitancy among young people (ages 11–18) and encourage them to attend vaccination appointments. The content must address at least COVID-19 and HPV but may also include other vaccinations (e.g., flu, Tdap, MenACWY, MenB). Depending on the needs of the population served, content and distribution may take the form of social media, radio, peer-to-peer education, or other ways to reach adolescents. The applicant must propose a project that utilizes youth on a part-time, paid basis as content creators and/or educators. Applicants must also describe how they will measure success, and develop a timeline, budget, and workplan.

Projects must address the following RFA objectives:

• Increase the number of adolescents within the target community who express confidence in COVID and HPV vaccines.
• Increase the number of adolescents within the target community who attend vaccination appointments and follow-up appointments.

Projects should incorporate the following priorities: 

• Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services for the selected priority population(s).
• Integrate social, medical, educational, and support services provided to affected population(s).
• Utilize best practices and evidence-based approaches; those that have been shown to be effective within the selected priority population(s).
• Be innovative; involve the application of new ideas or promising practices that address the needs of priority populations(s).

Eligibility

Eligible Entities (EEs) include but are not limited to: (1) any Community-Based Organization located within any Local Health Jurisdiction (LHJ) in California, (2) Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and other community clinics, (3) any non-profit organization located within California, and (4) Multi-County Entities (MCEs). EEs must have the capacity to fulfill the programmatic and administrative requirements of the grant and the ability to reach these hard-to-reach populations in their community. Entities may partner with other agencies or organizations to deliver any element of the proposed project, including providing vaccinations. Similarly, applicants may be administrative only and subgrant elements of the project to smaller, specialized organizations. The applicant entity assumes all responsibility for partner entities, subgrantees, and their work.

Applicant, partner, and subgrantee entities must be in good standing with CDPH, which means that the organizations may not have any prior letter of correction, written notice of breach, or inadequate performance on a current or previous contract or grant relationship with CDPH. CDPH reserves the right to request additional supporting materials to verify good standing.

Grant Award and Award Period

The award period will extend until June 30, 2025, from the grant start date.

RFA Time Schedule

Application Materials

All instructions needed to complete your application are included in the RFA linked below.

• 24-10181 RFA Adolescents (PDF): Full details and application materials
  The materials you must complete and submit as your application are linked and/or described below. All attachments must be submitted as individual PDFs using the following naming convention: “RFA_24-10181_Attachment_#_Applicant_Name.pdf.” For example: “RFA_24-10181_Attachment_1_ABC_Clinic_Inc.pdf.” Applicant Name should reflect the full legal name. For example, if the licensed name of an agency is “Trinity Community Healthcare Center Inc.,” all documents must include that full name and not a shortened version such as “Trinity Health.”

• Attachment 1:  Application Checklist (PDF) – Identifies all application submission requirements. (Required)
• Attachment 2: Application Cover Sheet Template (PDF) – Identifies key applicant contact information and must be signed by an official authorized to enter into a grant agreement on behalf of the EE. (Required)
• Attachment 3: Project Synopsis Template (PDF) – For applicant to provide a one-page synopsis that summarizes the key elements of the project. Project Synopsis should include applicant name, total amount requested, a list of partner organizations (if applicable), and a project description which includes population and geographic region served, project activities, and how project will achieve objectives. (Required)
• >Attachment 4:  Budget Form Template (Word)– For applicant to provide and explain their proposed project budget and the total amount requested. (Required)
• Attachment 5:  Application Narrative Template (PDF) – Questions that prompt applicants to describe and explain their organization and project. (Required)
• Project Workplan and Timeline – Draft a workplan and estimated project timeline and submit along with your application. (Required)
• Organization Certification – Submit evidence that your organization and if applicable, partner organization(s) is/are qualified to do business in and has a physical presence in California. Examples include: a current California Secretary of State certification, a California business license, an IRS 501(c)(3) letter showing a California address, or evidence of current insurance in California for each entity. (Required)
• Letters of Support – Include letters of support from project partners and/or referral entities. (Only include if applicable.)

Applications must be submitted via e-mail to VaccineConfidenceRFA@cdph.ca.gov with the subject line “Adolescent RFA Application” by the deadline indicated in the RFA Time Schedule.

Questions and Troubleshooting

If you have issues accessing any of the documents, please email VaccineConfidenceRFA@cdph.ca.gov with the subject line “Adolescent RFA Question” and we can send you the documents directly.

Please submit any questions regarding the RFA to VaccineConfidenceRFA@cdph.ca.gov with  the subject line “Adolescent RFA Question” by the deadline identified in the RFA Time Schedule.

Please report any problems or suspected errors in the RFA as soon as possible to VaccineConfidenceRFA@cdph.ca.gov.

Resources

RFA Frequently Asked Questions

RFA Grants to Improve Vaccine Confidence

Underserved Population Brief ​