Alaska seeks contractor to write first formula for infant learning grants

The Alaska Department of Health wants a contractor to design the state's first structured formula for dividing Infant Learning Program grants among 15 regional programs. The solicitation sets an Oct. 28 proposal deadline, though another section of the document lists Oct. 7, and no public amendment has resolved the conflict.

The Division of Senior and Disabilities Services issued the solicitation through Alaska Online Public Notices on Oct. 7. The contract is capped at $200,000. The formula will guide how the state splits state and federal money starting with the fiscal 2029 grant cycle. The programs serve about 1,900 children annually, from birth to age 3, who have developmental delays or disabilities, according to legislative records.

The state already weighs program size, enrollment, population, Medicaid enrollment and travel costs, but those factors "have not been developed into a structured funding formula," the solicitation says. It adds that the state's Infant Learning Program team lacks "the background and technical resources needed to design a formula of this complexity." The new formula must also account for referrals, service months, geographic costs and potential insurance or Medicaid revenue. The state says smaller and rural programs face challenges tied to their geography.

The formula will divide less money than the Alaska State Legislature approved. Gov. Mike Dunleavy vetoed $3.02 million in general fund mental health money meant to expand the program, according to a June 24 Office of Management and Budget veto summary. The vetoed bill text cuts the program's allocation from about $13.4 million to about $10.4 million, while the summary says $12.3 million was retained for grants in the base budget.

Six days earlier, a bill widening eligibility for the program became law without the governor's signature. Since July 1, a child qualifies with a 25% delay in one developmental area or a 20% delay in two or more areas, down from the previous 50% threshold.

In a March 18 letter to the Senate Finance Committee about the bill's fiscal note, Amy Simpson, executive director of Programs for Infants and Children in Anchorage, wrote, "However, it does not include the necessary funding for grantees to deliver these services." She estimated the program needed $2.7 million to offset inflation and years of flat funding, beyond the $3.02 million tied to expanded eligibility, and projected 77% more children would qualify.

Questions on the solicitation are due Oct. 19, and the state will hold a pre-proposal conference Oct. 14. The final funding formula is due Oct. 31, 2027.