Request for Proposals: Improving Child and Family Health Through Smart Moves for Kids

This funding opportunity supports implementation of Smart Moves for Kids, an evidence-based, family-centered program that combines nutrition education, physical activity, behavior change, and caregiver participation. The program aims to improve child and family health and expand access to diabetes prevention services in Minnesota communities experiencing a disproportionate burden of diabetes and barriers to prevention services.

Key dates

• Oct. 16, 2026: Request for Proposals Released
• Oct. 21, 2026: Informational webinar accommodation requests due
• Oct. 30, 2026: Informational webinar session (PDF)
• Nov. 20, 2026: Last day to submit RFP Questions
• Dec. 4, 2026: Proposals due
• January 2027: Award applicants
• March 30, 2027, or when grant is fully executed: Grant begins
• June 29, 2028: Grant ends

Funding amount

• Total funding available: Up to $70,000
• Anticipated number of awards: 2
• Maximum award: $35,000 per grantee for the full grant period
• Estimated minimum award: $30,000

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Nonprofit community-based and social service organizations
• Tribal governments and Tribal organizations
• Local governments and local public health agencies
• Public or nonprofit schools, school districts, and educational organizations
• Public or nonprofit institutions of higher education, including Extension programs
• Nonprofit healthcare organizations, clinics, and health systems
• Federally Qualified Health Centers and other nonprofit or public community health centers
• Faith-based nonprofit organizations 
• Other public or nonprofit entities with established relationships with the children and families they propose to serve

Priority communities and geography

MDH intends to award one grant to an eligible organization proposing to serve U.S.-born Black or African American children and families through Smart Moves for Kids. Applicants must demonstrate established relationships with this community and the capacity to recruit, engage, and support eligible children and their caregivers. MDH anticipates awarding a second grant to an eligible organization proposing to serve another priority community which may include:

• U.S-born Black or African American communities
• American Indian communities
• Hmong or other Asian immigrant communities
• Hispanic or Latino communities
• African immigrant communities
• Children and families enrolled in Medical Assistance (Minnesota’s Medicaid program)
• Children living with disabilities and their families
• Children living in Greater Minnesota
• Another Minnesota community experiencing a disproportionate burden of type 2. diabetes or barriers to accessing diabetes prevention programming

Please note: For this application, the term community is inclusive and may refer to a geographic, cultural, racial, ethnic, disability or other population whose members share relevant experiences, identities, circumstances, or relationships.

How to apply

Review the RFP, including attachments and submission requirements. Applications must be submitted by email to: health.diabetes@state.mn.us. 
All applications must be received by MDH no later than 4:30 p.m. (CT), Dec. 4, 2026.

Application materials

• Request for Proposals: Improving Child and Family Health Through Smart Moves for Kids (PDF)
• Cover Letter (PDF)
• Attachment A: Application for Improving Child and Family Health Through Smart Moves for Kids (Word)
• Attachment B: Grant Application Scoring Criteria (Word)
• Attachment C: Work Plan Template (Word)
• Attachment D: Budget Summary and Narrative (Excel): Revised Nov. 13, 2026
  • Attachment D has been updated to include a separate line item for indirect costs in both fiscal budget years. This update clarifies how applicants may include indirect costs in their proposed budgets. All other budget requirements remain unchanged. 
• Attachment E: Due Diligence Form (PDF)
• Attachment F: Applicant Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form (PDF)

Questions and answers

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. CST on Nov. 20, 2026, by email to health.diabetes@state.mn.us. Answers will be posted to this page. 

Q: Can siblings who do not meet the BMI criteria join the Smart Moves for Kids program? 
A: Yes, siblings who do not meet the BMI criteria are welcome to participate in Smart Moves for Kids.

Q: Can MDH review or provide feedback on draft proposals prior to submission? 
A: MDH cannot review or provide feedback on draft proposals prior to submission to ensure a fair and consistent application process. 

Q: Could an eligible grantee engage a for-profit clinic to provide healthcare education, care navigation, guidance, or interpretation services as part of Smart Moves for Kids? 
A: Yes. As outlined in Section 1.4, page 8 of the RFP, for-profit entities may support implementation through arrangements permitted under the grant agreement. An eligible grantee may propose to engage a for-profit clinic for a defined supporting role, provided the eligible grantee retains primary responsibility for implementing Smart Moves for Kids. Proposed services and associated costs must be described in the application and are subject to MDH review and approval. 

Q: Which outreach, caregiver education, navigation, and language-access services may be reimbursed, including clinic staff or owner time, and what limits apply to referral coordination? 
A:

• Section 2.2 (pages 18-19) outlines potentially allowable and ineligible expenses. Personnel time for program coordination, recruitment, referral management, enrollment, family communication, and program delivery, as well as participant supports such as interpretation, may be allowable. 
• Proposed compensation for clinic staff or owners, including time spent coordinating referrals, will be reviewed based on their role in approved grant activities, whether the proposed costs are reasonable and necessary, and applicable grant requirements. 
• Payments for referral incentives, direct patient care, and services reimbursed by another payer are not allowable. 
• All proposed expenses must be directly related to the approved work plan and are subject to MDH review and approval. 

Q: What agreements, procurement procedures, rate documentation, time records, and MDH approvals would be required? 
A:

• Applicants proposing collaborative arrangements must describe each organization’s responsibilities and identify proposed payments in their application budget and narrative, as outlined on pages 8-9 of the RFP.  
• Selected grantees must maintain appropriate financial documentation, including payroll records, supervisor approved timesheets or FTE allocations as applicable, contractor invoices, itemized receipts, and proof of payment. 
• All proposed expenses are subject to MDH review and approval. Before implementation, MDH will work with selected grantees to clarify applicable procurement requirements, documentation, and prior approvals for equipment purchases and subcontracted services. 
• Additional grant management requirements are outlined in Section 2.3, pages 20-23 of the RFP. 

Q: Which responsibilities must remain with the eligible applicant and primary implementer, including training, enrollment, delivery, and evaluation? 
A: Under Section 1.4 (pages 8-9), the eligible grantee retains responsibility for grant administration, financial management, reporting, and compliance with grant requirements. For-profit entities may support implementation but cannot apply directly, serve as a fiscal agent, or be the primary implementing organization. Section 2.2 (pages 13-15) allows qualified personnel from participating organizations to fulfill program functions, provided they complete the training required for their assigned roles. Additional grantee responsibilities are outlined in Section 2.3 (pages 20-23). 

Q: Would the proposed weekly schedule of 1 combined 2-hour meeting and 1 additional 1-hour activity meeting meet curriculum requirements, with caregiver arrangements confirmed through MDH? 
A: The program includes two weekly physical activity sessions, typically 45 minutes each, and one weekly nutrition or behavior modification session, typically 40 minutes. Each 12-week cohort must offer at least 26 contact hours per enrolled child, as outlined in Section 2.2, page 17. Caregiver participation in designated program components is also required. Selected grantees will work with MDH and the Smart Moves for Kids team to finalize implementation schedules and caregiver arrangements.

Q: Are indirect costs allowable under this grant, and how should applicants include them in their budgets? 
A: Yes, indirect costs are allowable in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Health’s Indirect Costs on Outgoing Grants policy and applicable federal funding requirements. 

• Applicants with a current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) may use their approved rate, subject to applicable funding restrictions. Applicants without a current NICRA may elect to use a de minimis rate of up to 15% of modified total direct costs. 
• Applicants should include indirect costs in the designated line item in Attachement D: Budget Template and explain their calculation in the budget narrative. Indirect costs must be included within the total grant request, which may not exceed $35,000 for the full grant period.