Improving Cross-System Collaborations for People with Developmental Disabilities (DD)

The NYS Council on Developmental Disabilities (CDD) is seeking grant proposals for 1-year innovative pilot projects focused on improving cross-system collaborations for systems serving people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. Eligible organizations can apply for a minimum of **$50,000** and a maximum of **$100,000**. The CDD will award multiple grantees up to **$300,000** total, subject to availability of funding.

This grant opportunity is designed to support innovative, field-informed projects that address persistent challenges affecting people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families across New York State.

CDD is releasing this grant opportunity to solicit and award proposals for innovative, actionable projects addressing a priority issue area. Proposed projects should develop, test, or expand practical approaches that improve communication, coordination, and shared problem-solving among service systems focused on improving cross-system collaboration. Projects may focus on strengthening relationships among DD service providers, health care providers, schools, mental health providers, employers, housing agencies, transportation systems, aging-service providers, and other relevant partners.

Strong proposals should be grounded in the lived experiences of people with DD and family members, identify a specific coordination challenge, engage relevant cross-system partners, and describe how the proposed work will lead to more seamless, person-centered support. Projects should emphasize innovative strategies that can generate lessons, tools, models, or practices useful beyond the immediate grant period.

Expected Key Deliverables

• A clearly defined project plan describing the cross-system challenge to be addressed, project activities, participating partners, timeline, and intended results.
• Meaningful engagement of people with DD, family members, and other key stakeholders in project design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Partnerships among relevant service systems, agencies, providers, and community organizations.
• Development and implementation of an innovative coordination strategy, such as cross-agency communication protocols, collaborative planning models, training resources, navigation supports, or other tools that reduce fragmentation.
• Documentation of project activities, barriers encountered, lessons learned, and promising practices for strengthening cross-system coordination.
• Measurable data or participant feedback demonstrating the project's reach, effectiveness, and impact on diminishing systemic barriers and improving outcomes for people with DD and their families.

All final grant applications must be received in Qualtrics by **11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET)** on the Proposal Due Date. Proposals will only be accepted in Qualtrics. Proposals will not be accepted via fax, e-mail, hard copy or hand delivery. Late proposals will not be accepted. Online submission is **required**.

All questions must be submitted through Qualtrics. A Questions and Answers (Q&A) Summary will be posted on our website: https://cdd.ny.gov/funding.

New York State requires nonprofits to register in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and complete the Vendor Prequalification process for proposals to be evaluted. Proposals received from eligible nonprofit applicants who have not been registered AND prequalified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) by the Proposal Due Date will not be evaluated; and therefore, will be disqualified from further consideration.

The contract(s) awarded in response to this RFP will be for 1 year with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2027, and an anticipated end date of December 31, 2027.

Your 1-Year Expenditure Budget must include a minimum of **34%** of Match funding over the total budget (not by each budget line). CDD Indirect Costs should not exceed 15% of the budgeted direct expenses.

Please note the issuance of this RFP does not obligate the CDD to award a grant(s).