SOI 1276 Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in NYC

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services, through its Bureau of Contract Management, is issuing Solicitation of Interest 1276, Dolly Partons Imagination Library in New York City. The solicitation seeks qualified entities to participate in Dolly Partons Imagination Library, a community based program that mails free, high quality, age appropriate books to registered children from birth until their fifth birthday. OCFS intends to provide financial assistance both to organizations becoming new Local Program Partners and to established Program Partners seeking to increase enrollment in existing coverage areas or expand into new coverage areas. The geographic scope is limited to New York City, specifically the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Individual grant awards will range from a minimum of 2000 dollars to a maximum of 50000 dollars. Grant funds must be used toward monthly costs billed by Dolly Partons Imagination Library. Local Program Partners enroll children within their selected coverage areas and pay, on average, 2.60 dollars per child per month toward wholesale book and mailing costs. The grant may fund up to 50 percent of these monthly costs. Applicants may receive the full requested amount or a partial award based on evaluation recommendations and available funding. Awardees must provide a dollar for dollar match, with OCFS contributing no more than 50 percent of the funds required for participation. Release of the total award is authorized upon approval of an AC 3253-S Claim for Payment with acceptable documentation that the required matching funds are on deposit with Dolly Partons Imagination Library. Eligible applicants must be authorized to do business in New York State and must be either a New York State 501(c)(3) library, public library system, or not for profit organization located within the five boroughs of New York City, or a New York City school district. Applicants must have a Memorandum of Agreement with Dolly Partons Imagination Library to serve New York State youth as a Local Program Partner at the time of application or agree to obtain one within 60 days if selected for an award. Nonprofit organizations must be prequalified in the New York State Financial System at the time of application if they are not exempt. Government entities are not required to prequalify but should be registered in the Statewide Financial System Grants Management system. Application submission occurs in two required steps. Beginning September 14, 2026, applicants must first complete the online administrative form made available through the OCFS Funding Opportunities Page and New York State Contract Reporter. Submission of this form generates an application number and a confirmation email from funding@ocfs.ny.gov. Applicants must then reply to that confirmation email and submit the required application documents to funding@ocfs.ny.gov. The legal name, address, and application number must appear in the email body, the subject line must not be altered, and supporting documents must be attached. Required materials include Attachment 1, Application Form; Attachment 2, NYS Grants for Dolly Partons Imagination Library in New York City Participation Certification; and, if available, a copy of the applicants Memorandum of Agreement with Dollywood for participation as a Local Program Partner. Additional forms may be submitted with the response or required after award during contract development. Fax and hard copy applications are not accepted. OCFS will conduct an internal eligibility review and rank applications first according to the highest percentage below poverty level among the populations proposed to be served and then according to the order applications are received. Awards will continue until available funding is exhausted. OCFS may request additional information before determining eligibility, and requested information must be provided within five business days or as otherwise directed. Upon determining eligibility, OCFS will notify eligible organizations of their status and proposed award amount, if any. Applicants should therefore demonstrate eligibility clearly, submit complete and viewable documentation, and accurately establish the population and coverage area proposed to be served. The solicitation was issued August 24, 2026. Written questions are due September 4, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with responses expected to be posted on or about September 14, 2026. The application submission period opens September 14, 2026, and complete applications are due September 28, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Questions and application materials are directed to funding@ocfs.ny.gov, with the Director of Contracts at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services identified as the primary and submission contact. Contracts are anticipated to last up to one year and begin no earlier than November 1, 2026, and no later than February 28, 2027. Contractors may not provide reimbursable services before the approved contract start date. Within 30 days after grant award payment, grantees must provide acceptable documentation demonstrating that the full grant award paid was deposited with Dolly Partons Imagination Library. Grantees must also submit a final report when all grant funds have been expended or at the end of the grant period, but no later than September 5, 2028. Funding remains contingent on the availability of state and or federal budget resources and the number of eligible applicants responding to the solicitation. The solicitation does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or according to another regular schedule, so no recurring application cycle is established by the source.

Demonstrate every eligibility requirement with accurate supporting information. Ensure documents are complete, correct, and viewable before submission. Complete both required submission steps by the deadline. Clearly document the poverty level of the population proposed to be served because OCFS ranks applications first by highest percentage below poverty level and then by order received. Submit promptly because receipt order is a secondary ranking factor and awards continue only until available funding is exhausted.