Adult Basic Education Request For Proposals Main Page

Information on NMHED's Adult Basic Education RFPs and extensions

The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED), Adult Basic Education Division, announces a Request for Proposals (RFP) to receive a grant to support the operation of Adult Basic Education and English as a Second Language Programs in each of four regions in New Mexico under grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and funding appropriated through the New Mexico Legislature.  Grants will be awarded for fiscal year 2011-2012, beginning on July 1, 2011, and ending on June 30, 2012.  Grants may be extended for up to three years, depending upon availability of funding and performance of programs applying for grant extensions.
The goal of Adult Education programs in New Mexico is to support and encourage activities that:

1. Assist adults in becoming literate;
2. Assist adults in obtaining knowledge and skills necessary for employment and
3. self-sufficiency;
4. Assist adults in obtaining knowledge and skills necessary for entering and being successful in postsecondary training or education;
5. Assist adults in obtaining the educational skills necessary to become full partners
6. in their children’s education; and
7. Assist adults in completing their secondary school education.

DOWNLOAD THE RFP HERE (MS Word)

A copy of the RFP may be also obtained at:

New Mexico Higher Education Department
2048 Galisteo St.
Santa Fe, NM 87505

Contact:         Harrison Rommel, Ph.D.
                        Interim Director, Adult Basic Education Division
                        New Mexico Higher Education Department
                        harrison.rommel@state.nm.us

Questions & Answers from the March 29 WIMBA Session

When will EL/Civics extension be available and due?

• The EL Civics Extension is released and available HERE.

 

What funding formula will be used to fund the coming year?  How much will the base be?

• We will use the same performance based funding formula developed and implemented in FY 10-11. ABE will NOT be incorporated into the higher education funding formula in FY 11-12.  The base is not determined at this time and depends on the finalized allocation to HED but will probably be very similar to FY 10-11.

What has been our total funding cut for the coming year?  Fed? State?

• Our State funding has been cut on the order of 5%, but HB2 has not yet been signed.  Federal funds are approximately level with FY 09-10, i.e. they do not include the ~$250K "windfall" received last year due to  a calculation error by OVAE.

 

Do we know the total state budget?

• HB2 has not yet been signed and we will update the amounts as soon as the appropriations are finalized.

We have many exhibits that we would like to submit in the Appendix section of the proposal.  Can we bind those or do those need to be loose as well?

• Please do NOT bind attachments.  We will be scanning all documents and submitting electronic versions to reviewers.

Additional Questions Submitted to NMHED

Do state agencies qualify for funding under IIE [AEFLA qualifications]?

• Yes. State agencies other than the granting agency qualify under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, 20 U.S.C. 9201, Section 203 (5)

The section of the new RFP proposed budget appendix C, asks us to explain the budget. How will this be done w/o the back-up forms we’ve used? These forms d-a, were used  in past to explain the budget plan.  Please explain.
 

• The budget explanation section is to guide programs on what expenses are allowable. We are only asking for a brief budget proposals (first page, Appendix C) for this RFP.  A final, detailed budget will be determined at the time of the grant award and will be included as part of the Memorandum of Understanding.

 
When referring to social networking are we talking about networking sites such as facebook, twitter, Skype,etc.?
 

• Yes, those types, and other more traditional forms of networking, e.g. community events

 
In providing the numbers for the proposed budget on Appendix C, we are including the addition of both State and Federal amounts under the column labeled "Grant through NMHED."  Is this correct? 
 

• Yes, please include both funding sources in your budget estimate.

 
The Proposed Budget form asks for funds from other sources.  Is this to include cash only or in-kind contributions such as facility usage and volunteers?

• Only other cash sources should be included in the proposed budget. Do not include in-kind contributions. 

The RFP program narrative includes the “Federally Required Considerations”.  Is answering the questions of these federally required considerations as part of the narrative required or optional?

• REQUIRED