1/2024 Update! The Jan. 12 deadline for Round 2 RFP submissions has passed. RFPs submitted prior to the deadline are now under review by the Delaware County Opioid Task Force. The RFP review period runs from Jan. 15, 2024 to Jan. 26, 2024. Delaware County Council will vote on RFP submissions in February.
On September 13, 2022, Delaware County Council announced an historic $62.5M opioid settlement with pharmaceutical distributors resulting from the combined legal actions taken by the County, State, and the District Attorney. The funds come from the $26 billion global settlement with Cardinal, McKesson, and AmerisourceBergen, three major pharmaceutical distributors of opioids.
The County will receive annual payments for 18 years, with an average amount of $3.5M per year, to tackle the devastating opioid epidemic affecting Delaware County residents, their loved ones, and the community.
These settlement funds will support programs directly related to the impacts of opioid overuse and addiction and is restricted to certain remediation purposes such as Naloxone training and distribution for first responders, schools, community support groups and families, medication-assisted treatment, expansion of warm hand-off programs and recovery services, prevention programs and treatment for incarcerated populations.
To ensure that the funds are used to combat the opioid crisis to the best of their ability, Delaware County has formed an interdepartmental and interdisciplinary Task Force to provide recommendations to County Council for short-term and immediate uses, as well as long-term programming that can be supported by the new funding.
Since the 2022 announcement, the County and the Task Force have continuously engaged the public through a series of town halls, roundtable discussions, surveys, and other public engagement activities to help ensure that the funds are spent appropriately and transparently.
In 2023, the County issued a public Request for Proposals for the first round of funding and announced the winning recipients on August 18, 2023. Delaware County health providers received a total of $517,056, service providers were allotted $3,993,451, Delaware County Institutions of Higher Education received $613,819, and Delaware County Departments received a total of $1,327,316.
For additional details regarding Round 1 recipients, read the First Round of Opioid Settlement Funds re-cap.
The County of Delaware is slated to receive $4,146,699 in Round 2 funding as a result of the Opioid Settlement. Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions can be submitted by individuals, health providers, vendors, schools and other organizations and entities through January 12, 2024.
Note: These dollars must be spent within the confines of the settlement, including specified purposes as outlined in Exhibit E of the RFP documentation, and be fully expended within eighteen (18) months of receipt utilizing cash basis accounting.
For this Round of grants, grantees must expend all funds by May 31, 2025 or such funds may be recaptured by the County and reallocated.
Timeline for Round 2 RFP Submissions
| Action | Date |
|---|---|
| RFP Released | Dec. 18, 2023 |
| Applicant Questions Due | Dec. 29, 2023 Responses will be posted by close of business Jan. 3, 2024 |
| RFP Responses Due | Jan. 12, 2024 |
| Proposal Review Dates (anticipated) | Jan. 15, 2024 – Jan. 26, 2024 |
| Council Consideration (anticipated) | Feb. 7, 2024 |
Based on the responses by the Taskforce and the County Workgroup, as well as the community input, the following five initiatives have been approved by County Council for potential funding, based on Request for Proposal (RFP) submissions that individuals, health providers, vendors, schools and other organizations and entities were urged to submit from December 2023 through January 12, 2024.
Initiative 1: Program Coordinator
The Program Coordinator would have the responsibility of assisting the County in gaining public insight as to the potential uses of the funds, plan for the current and future funds, as well as ensuring appropriate reporting.
Initiative 2: Community Recovery Center
The Community Recovery Center will serve as a resource hub for the community and provide support for persons with substance use disorder and their families.
Initiative 3: Recovery Stabilization
Persons in early recovery often require additional support, such as transportation, food/clothing assistance, workforce training, GED Preparation, rental/utility assistance, etc.
Initiative 4: Prevention Education
There are multiple audiences of the educational programs, including children and parents, community members, law enforcement, medical professionals, and family members.
Initiative 5: Certified Recovery Specialists
Certified Recovery Specialists are essential in connecting persons to treatment and having them available twenty-four hours a day in the local emergency rooms would be invaluable.