RFI 26025 - Faith-Based Leadership Training and Community Engagement

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) seeks information from organizations capable of providing training, technical assistance, and other resources to equip faith leaders and faith communities to address substance use disorders and overdose through education, stigma reduction, connections to services, and community engagement. Responses will help NYS OASAS understand available programs, provider capacity, delivery options, evaluation approaches, and estimated budgets for a potential New York State initiative.

This Request for Information (RFI) is for planning purposes only. It is not a solicitation for bids or proposals, and no contract or funding award will result from it.

NYS OASAS is interested in programs that engage leaders from diverse faith traditions and denominations and strengthen their ability to support individuals and families affected by substance use. Organizations need not be faith affiliated to respond. Areas of interest include:

• Recruiting and supporting diverse cohorts of faith leaders, including leaders serving communities disproportionately affected by substance use and overdose.
• Providing structured training on substance use disorders, stigma reduction, overdose recognition and response, naloxone, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery, including medications for opioid use disorder.
• Connecting faith communities with local prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction providers and developing practical referral resources.
• Helping participants plan and carry out community education, outreach, and engagement projects, with technical assistance and practical resources.
• Measuring participation, changes in knowledge and confidence, community reach, and connections to services, supporting continued engagement after training, and sharing participation and evaluation data with NYS OASAS.

NYS OASAS welcomes different curricula, program lengths, delivery methods, and partnerships that meet these goals. No particular branded curriculum, proprietary product, event format, or prior relationship with NYS OASAS is required. Services should respect different beliefs and support access to assistance without requiring religious participation.

**Questions and submissions** should be emailed to OASASProcurements@oasas.ny.gov. Use the subject line "Faith-Based Program RFI 26025 - Submission - [Organization Name]" or "Faith-Based Program RFI 26025 - Questions," as appropriate.

A narrative of approximately three to five pages, plus an estimated budget and any existing curriculum materials or sample agendas, is suggested. Shorter or partial responses are welcome; this is not a minimum length or mandatory page limit.

Responses will not be scored or ranked for an award under this RFI. [...] Organizations interested in any future solicitation for this initiative are strongly encouraged to respond by the stated deadline. [...] NYS OASAS reserves the right to limit participation in a future solicitation for this initiative to organizations that submit a response to this RFI by that deadline.