County Accepting Proposals for Opioid Early Intervention Strategies

Feb 1, 2024, 11:50 AM by Lou Cherry

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Cumberland County is seeking proposals from agencies for projects that will help the community implement high-impact early intervention strategies to address the opioid epidemic.

As part of the Opioid Settlement Fund, Cumberland County will receive a total of $30,822,230 over 18 years. The funds may be used towards programs and initiatives aimed at addressing opioid addiction within the County. On Jan. 11, 2024, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved the use of up to $500,000 to fund pilot projects, lasting 2 years, that provide early intervention initiatives.

The County is soliciting requests for funding through a formal competitive Request for Proposal process. Learn more about the Opioid Settlement Fund RPF on the Cumberland County website at

cumberlandcountync.gov/departments/commissioners-group/commissioners/opioid-settlement-funds. To submit an RFP, go to the County’s Vendor Self Service page at https://ccmunis.co.cumberland.nc.us/vss/default.aspx and search open bids (Proposal # RFP#24-13-PH OPIOID SETTLEMENT). Proposals are due no later than 2 p.m. on March 15, 2024.

The County will hold virtual information workshops on Feb. 8 at 9:30 a.m. and Feb. 13 at 3:30 p.m. for interested agencies and organizations. A video recorded virtual session will be posted online on the Opioid Settlement Fund webpage above for anyone who is unable to attend.

Proposals will be accepted from nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, hospital systems and private behavioral health and mental health providers. This includes providers of Office-Based Opioid Treatment and Opioid Treatment Providers, Federal Qualified Health Centers, kindergarten through post-graduate educational institutions and other community-based organizations. Agencies that have not previously received funding from Cumberland County and agencies with annual budgets of less than $1 million will be prioritized for funding.

To receive funding, projects must:

Meet a public purpose and fall within Cumberland County’s statutory authority to fund, to be reviewed and affirmed by the Cumberland County Legal Department prior to execution of a contract or funding agreement.
Identify and directly address a need related to reducing opioid overdoses and related deaths through early intervention strategies.
Directly address health inequities, social determinants of health and support equitable outcomes for the most impacted populations.
Use evidence-based practices.
Share all contributing funding sources. Make best use of this infusion of resources.
Provide performance reporting regarding use of funds and project impact on a quarterly basis.
Include an approved budget using Cumberland County’s Budget Template, and track and report expenditures using the same form.
Comply with all provisions and requirements including expenditures tracking and federal subrecipient monitoring. The full list of requirements can be found on the RFP, by visiting the Memorandum of Agreement webpage https://www.morepowerfulnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Final-Opioid-MOA-rev-July-2023-re-Ex-E-and-F.pdf, and by participating in the webinars.
Serve the residents of Cumberland County.
Proposals must be two-year projects.

All questions regarding the RFP should be referred to Purchasing Manager Sophia Murnahan at cumberlandpurchasing@cumberlandcountync.gov or call 910-678-7743.