Opportunity Overview
The FFY27 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness Projects, RFA #114, is an Ohio Department of Behavioral Health funding opportunity for Ohio alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services boards (ADAMHS boards) to develop, implement, and strengthen comprehensive behavioral health disaster preparedness plans.
Funding and Deadline
DBH will make awards of at least $20,500 and no more than $50,000 per recipient, with as many as 50 ADAMHS boards potentially selected. The total statewide funding pool is not stated as a fixed amount in the RFA. Applications must be submitted electronically to Prepare2@dbh.ohio.gov by September 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. The funding period is October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
Eligible Applicants
Only Ohio ADAMHS boards established under Ohio Revised Code 340.02 or 340.021 are eligible to apply. Boards must have the resources to complete the required scope of work. This is not a direct Dr. Miltie applicant opportunity.
Eligible Activities and Costs
The RFA supports behavioral health disaster preparedness activities including community needs assessment, steering committees, memoranda of understanding and cross-system partnerships, medication-management protocols, evidence-based disaster response training, safety planning for people with severe and persistent mental illness or substance use disorders, culturally and linguistically competent planning, public education, plan review, sustainability planning, and contractor or consultant support. The RFA does not identify a general equipment-purchase objective, so technology or device allowability should not be assumed.
Match / Cost Share
The controlling RFA does not state a mandatory non-Federal match or cost-share requirement.
Required Application Components
The application is limited to six narrative pages, excluding the Budget Expenditure Form and Budget Narrative. Required components include the DBH face sheet, applicant qualifications, detailed scope of work, timeline with SMART objectives, steering committee information, Budget Expenditure Form and Budget Narrative, and the DBH Budget Checklist. Current FY26 BSCA grantees must provide their existing steering committee roster. Applicants that did not receive FY26 BSCA funding must identify participating steering committee organizations and provide three letters of support from steering committee members. If subawardees are used, applicants must provide the required subawardee information and signed assurances.
Questions, Amendments, and Submission Rules
The questions deadline was September 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EDT. DBH directs applicants to the funding-opportunity webpage for FAQs, amendments, alerts, and other updates and warns applicants not to contact DBH staff directly with solicitation questions. Applications submitted after the September 11 deadline, mailed applications, faxed applications, and separately submitted materials will not be accepted.
N9+ / Dr. Miltie Strategic Analysis
N9+ Fit Score: 8/100. This opportunity is primarily for behavioral health emergency planning, training, interagency coordination, and preparedness-system development. The Nonagon N9+ remote physical examination platform should not be forced into the project. A limited future-use case could exist where an ADAMHS board independently incorporates telehealth-enabled continuity-of-care planning into its broader disaster response system, but the RFA does not establish N9+ or remote examination as a funded priority.
Atlas Opportunity Score: 55/100 for eligible ADAMHS boards. The grant is relevant and comparatively accessible to its narrow eligible applicant universe, but the application closes within the final 48-hour outreach cutoff. Atlas therefore will not initiate new applicant outreach for this RFA.
Atlas Action
Publication may continue despite the outreach cutoff. No new applicant outreach should be initiated because fewer than 48 hours remain before the exact deadline. Existing eligible boards that were independently engaged before the cutoff may continue permitted package preparation and submission support.
Controlling source: Ohio Department of Behavioral Health FFY27 BSCA Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness Projects RFA #114.