REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

Promoting physical activity and healthy eating

to reduce the prevalence of obesity in Hawaii.
 I. ABOUT THE HMSA FOUNDATION
The HMSA Foundation’s mission is to extend
HMSA’s commitment to providing access to
cost-effective health care services; health
promotion, education and research; and the
promotion of social welfare. The Foundation
looks at health in the broadest sense,
thinking of health as an optimal state of
well-being – physical, emotional and social.
The Foundation helps people and com-
munities to reach their best potential by
improving access to health care, eliminating
barriers to health and health care, creating
healthy environments, and supporting per-
sonal responsibility for health. For complete
information about the Foundation’s history,
organization, grantmaking, and funding pri-
ority areas, visit www.hmsafoundation.org.
II. PURPOSE OF THIS RFP
The HMSA Foundation is extending this
RFP to provide funding to promote physi-
cal activity and healthy eating to reduce
the prevalence of obesity in Hawaii through
school-based projects, community-based
projects, and health care setting approach-
es.
Issue Background
Childhood obesity in Hawaii has been
increasing dramatically and is a risk factor
for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension
and cancer. In 2002, 43 percent of Hawaii’s
population was overweight or obese, up
37 percent from 1990. Although Hawaii
has consistently been below the U.S. aver-
age, the gap is narrowing. Currently over
20 percent of Hawaii’s youth are over-
weight. Costs associated with obesity have
been measured at $117 billion nationally.
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Healthcare costs for morbidly obese adults
are nearly twice those of people considered
to be of normal weight, according to a
recent study. The study found that medical
expenditures for morbidly obese adults in
the year 2000 were 81 percent more than
for normal-weight adults, 65 percent more
than overweight adults, and 47 percent
more than obese adults. The excess costs
are due to greater spending on visits to the
doctor, outpatient hospital care, inpatient
care, and prescription drugs, according to
researchers.
Morbid obesity (defined as being 100
pounds or more over ideal body weight
or having a body mass index [BMI] of 40
or higher), is rising twice as fast as obesity
(BMI greater than 30) in the United States.
Between 1990 and 2000, the prevalence of
morbid obesity increased from 0.78 percent
to 2.2 percent, representing a total of over
4.8 million morbidly obese U.S. adults in the
year 2000. If the number of morbidly obese
Americans continues to increase over the
next decade, total U.S. health care expen-
ditures will likely continue to rise, according
to the study.
Morbid obesity is associated with a sub-
stantially increased risk of sickness and
death from chronic health conditions such
as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular
disease and cancer. The researchers say
further research is needed into specific
interventions that will reduce the incidence
and prevalence of morbid obesity and
improve the health outcomes of morbidly
obese individuals.
People who are overweight are at increased
risk for a host of health problems, including
heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke,
arthritis, Type 2 diabetes, and some can-

cers. Increases in overweight and obesity
in the U.S. have reached epidemic propor-
tions. A recent report from the Office of the
Surgeon General indicates that more than
half of all adults and 11 percent of children
and adolescents in the U.S. are estimated to
be overweight or obese.
See these links for a comprehensive over-
view of the issue:
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/
index.htm
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/
index.htm
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition.
htm
Increasing regular physical activity and
healthy eating and creating environments
that support these behaviors are critical to
reducing obesity. Regular physical activity
and healthy eating reduce risks for many
chronic diseases. However, despite the posi-
tive benefits of regular physical activity, only
25 percent of American adults and 27 per-
cent of high school students exercise regu-
larly at a level likely to have health benefits.
Further, a large gap exists between what
Americans eat and recommended dietary
intake.
The HMSA Foundation hopes that resources
committed to reducing and preventing obe-
sity through this RFP can help facilitate
program, policy and environmental changes
designed to promote physical activity and
healthy eating.
HMSA
Foundation 03
Funding Focus
The underlying focus of this RFP centers on
creating and supporting systems that ensure
individuals are successful in establishing and
maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.
Recognizing that choice is at the center of
behavior change and that cultural, social and
physical environments may present barriers
to making healthy choices is paramount to
the type of proposal that is being sought.
This RFP is looking for innovative propos-
als that enable people to make sustainable
healthy choices by increasing opportunities
for and removing barriers to regular physical
activity and/or healthy eating. We are par-
ticularly interested in school-based projects,
community-based projects, and health care
setting approaches.
For example, those who receive awards
might conduct the following core activities:
• Create a school environment that pro-
motes healthy eating and active lifestyles.
• Conduct an assessment of the current
policies and programs implemented in
elementary and middle schools.
• Partner with external organizations to
expand opportunities for physical activity
before, during or after school.
• Encourage parents/guardians to partici-
pate in nutrition and activity programs.
• Collect baseline data and evaluate
program success.
 Funding Strategies
What strategies work best to facilitate phys-
ical activity and healthy eating? The CDC
recommends interventions that promote
lifestyle changes, such as walking instead
of riding in a car, climbing stairs instead
of taking the elevator, eating more fruits
and vegetables, and providing healthy food
choices. Further, they suggest that pro-
gram, policy and environmental changes
must take place in those places or areas
that impact daily living, such as:
Schools
Health care settings
Worksites
Parks and recreation facilities
Restaurants
Neighborhoods
Grocery stores
Communities
This funding opportunity is designed to
increase the likelihood of individuals making
sustainable healthy choices by focusing on
one or more of the following approaches:
School-based projects – A wide range of
new or enhanced projects to create, test or
enhance programs that encourage physical
activity and/or healthy eating (i.e., health
education curricula and sports and physical
education programs).
Community-based projects – Projects that
focus on improving or creating policies that
promote physical activity and/or healthy
eating (i.e., access to healthy foods and
safe opportunities for physical activities).
Health care setting approaches – Projects
that focus on cultural, social or physical
changes in service or environment that
facilitate healthy choices (i.e., prevention
and management of overweight and obe-
sity such employee wellness programs,
04
staff education, and appropriate behavioral
and/or weight management counseling and
follow-up).
Examples
Grants in this program area are anticipated
to be awarded for projects such as the
examples below, listed by targeted sector.
This is not an exhaustive list, but demon-
strates the type of strategies in which the
Foundation is interested.
School and/or community:
• Modify school curricula and policies to
increase the amount of time students
spend in moderate to vigorous activity
while in physical education class.
• Encourage individuals and organizations
to work together to identify and cre-
ate safe walking and bicycle routes to
school.
• Promote collaboration between physical
education and classroom teachers.
• Provide extracurricular physical activity
projects.
• Coordinate physical activities with com-
munity agencies.
• Encourage and enable parental involve-
ment in physical activity.
• Provide physical and social environments
that encourage and enable physical
activity.
Worksite:
• Develop an employee wellness commit-
tee to lead a worksite project to promote
healthy eating and moderate physical
activity.

• Make stairwells visually appealing with
art and signs to encourage their use by
employees.
• Develop opportunities for employees to
incorporate physical activity into the work
day.
• Coordinate physical activities with com-
munity agencies.
Proposed interventions should be well
planned, designed to meet local needs,
and likely to sustain. Interventions that are
grounded in research or recommended by
the CDC are encouraged.
III. ELIGIBILITY
Who can apply
The following organizations are eligible for
funding under this RFP:
• Organizations that demonstrate a tax-
exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
• Organizations recognized as an instrument
of state or local government.
Eligibility note: Other Hawaii-based organi-
zations/corporations that can demonstrate
that the project for which they are requesting
funding is for charitable purposes may be eli-
gible. For more information, please contact
the HMSA Foundation prior to submitting a
proposal.
Exclusions
The Foundation will not accept proposals for
the following:
HMSA
Foundation 05
• Ongoing general operating expenses or
existing deficits.
• Capital and endowment campaigns.
• Fund-raising events.
• Programs that are not Hawaii-based.
• Individual medical care or support.
• Lobbying or political purposes.
• Support of organizations that practice
discrimination.
• Memberships in health or fitness facilities.
• Construction expenses.*
• Fitness equipment.*
*Special note: In most instances, these
exclusions will apply. However, there may
be special circumstances that allow limited
exceptions. Please contact the Foundation
prior to submitting a proposal that includes
expenses for one of these (*) categories.
IV. FUNDING GUIDELINES
Funding Parameters
We envision making grants of various sizes
ranging from about $10,000 up to about
$300,000. An award average or range is not
being suggested for this RFP because the
scope of projects to reduce the prevalence
of obesity in Hawaii through the promotion
of physical activity and healthy eating can
vary significantly. However, we encourage
you to contact the Foundation if you have
questions about the appropriateness of the
level of funding you are seeking. Also, please
carefully consider a level of funding that posi-
tions the project for sustainability.
 Length of Grants
We encourage applicants to consider the
long term, and to carefully consider sustain-
ability of both the program and continued
outcomes. Therefore, we will accept propos-
als that request three years of funding. No
minimum limitation will be set on the length
of the grant project, though it is anticipated
most would be at least one or two years.
The length of grant awards will be based on
the time essential to the project strategy.
Factors Considered in Funding
Decisions
Priority consideration will be given to proj-
ects that:
• Include realistic plans for long-term sus-
tainability.
• Have clear, logical, realistic plans.
• Are led by strong, proven organizations
and individuals.
• Already have support of key stakeholders
(clients, community, intended partners,
etc.).
• Leverage HMSA Foundation funds to
acquire or match grants from outside
Hawaii.
• Employ an innovative approach.
• Suggest opportunities for replication.
• Serve to build the organization’s own
capacity to continue its mission in the
future.
• Build on current obesity prevention or
reduction efforts.
• Are designed to initiate new efforts or test
models that address this important health
area.
• Are based on sound evidence or
06
principles.
• Serve significant population groups.
• Establish or build on community coali-
tions, partnerships or collaborative efforts.
• Bring significant community resources
(cash and in-kind contributions) to the
project.
Awards will be determined by the quality and
strength of the case presented for the pro-
posed strategies, the appropriateness of the
HMSA Foundation as the source of funding
and the availability of funding.
V. HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are encouraged to submit a one
page letter of intent for initial review to help
determine if a more detailed proposal is war-
ranted. This one page letter will also help
the HMSA Foundation provide technical
assistance in the application process. We
may be able to provide valuable feedback
on the project before the complete proposal
is written.
Proposal Format
Please help us process your response to
this RFP by adhering to the following format
order and guidelines. A proposal checklist is
provided to help you ensure your proposal
is complete.
1. Cover Page – Complete the proposal
cover page form and ensure that all request-
ed information is provided. (DO NOT exceed
this one-page format.)
2. Proposal Narrative – The following
components should be included in this
order:
• Organizational Background – Briefly
describe the history and current activities
of your organization, including your mis-
sion, founding date, major programs, and
links with other organizations.

• Proposal Details – Please answer the
following questions in detail:
a. What is the general nature of your
proposed project?
b. How did you determine the need for
this project?
c. How is your proposed project relevant
to the goal of reducing the prevalence
of obesity in Hawaii?
d. What are the broad goals of your proj-
ect and the strategies you plan to use
to achieve those goals?
e. On what research/evidence are you
basing your project strategies?
f. Who is the target population that will be
served by your proposed project and
how many participants do you antici-
pate will be involved?
g. How will your proposed project
encourage a lifestyle change among
your targeted population and how will
that change be sustained?
h. Who will direct the project and what
are their qualifications?
i. Are you proposing a new project or the
continuation/expansion of an existing
project?
j. What other information about your
proposed project would be important
for you to share with those who review
your proposal?
Format note: The proposal narrative should
be typed in 12-point font, single-spaced,
with one-inch margins and be no more than
five (5) single-sided pages.
3. Budget – Complete (in detail) the one-
page proposal budget form. Also attach a
budget narrative in which you: 1) describe
how you developed your budget; 2) provide
appropriate itemization (as specified on the
proposal budget form); and 3) address any
HMSA
FOUNDATION 07
budget items that require clarification. Please
include documentation of all bids or quotes
for products and/or services included in your
proposal.
4. Evaluation
• Describe your plan for evaluating the
success of the project.
• What questions will be addressed? Who
will be involved in evaluating this work?
How will the results be used?
5. Supporting Documents – Include
only one copy of the additional supporting
documents:
• List and brief biographical sketches of key
project staff.
• As appropriate to your type of
organization:
- IRS Letter of Determination.
- Most recent Audited Financial
Statement.
- IRS Form 990.
• Limited additional attachments that will be
helpful in demonstrating the merit of your
proposal.
Proposal Tips
A good proposal follows common sense.
Some of these tips may seem obvious, but it
is surprising how often they are overlooked:
• If the proposal narrative is more than the
requested limit of five (5) pages, it prob-
ably says too much.
• Succinctly state what you propose to do
with a grant from the HMSA Foundation
in the “Project Description” on the pro-
posal cover page. Please give brief
details, not language that echoes the
HMSA Foundation mission statement or
focus of this RFP.
 • Assume that the HMSA Foundation has Deadline
no knowledge of your organization or
project. Received or Reviewed in:
postmarked by:
• Include precise data in your proposal nar-
rative and emphasize what your organiza- Jan. 1 March
tion plans to do. In other words, spend April 1 June
more time describing your solution than July 1 September
the issue.
Oct. 1 December
• Avoid using technical or “insider” jargon. Note: If the date falls on a weekend or holiday, the
• Take the time to prepare a detailed bud- deadline will be the next working day.
get with exact costs, not just rounded off
categories. This is often where reviewers Please send proposals to:
look first to determine the scope of your
Mark L. Forman
proposed project and the thoroughness of
Executive Administrator
your budget preparation.
HMSA Foundation
• Be clear about outcomes that can be P.O. Box 860
assessed and how the project will con- Honolulu, HI 96808-0860
tribute to promoting physical activity and
healthy eating. All applicants will receive confirmation of
the receipt of their applications and will be
• If you are unsure about whether your idea
notified in writing regarding the outcome of
fits with the criteria outlined for this HMSA
their proposals. All decisions of the HMSA
Foundation funding opportunity, please
Foundation Board of Trustees will be final
feel free to give us a call or send us an e-
and all materials submitted for consider-
mail inquiry (meryam_leong@hmsa.com).
ation will become the property of the HMSA
Foundation and will not be returned to
Declinations applicants.
Submission of a grant application does
not guarantee receipt of an award. As the Reports
Foundation expects to receive more propos-
Grantees will be expected to meet Foundation
als than can be funded, some will be denied
requirements for the submission of interim
due to limited resources. Other proposals
and final cumulative progress and financial
will not be funded because they are not a
reports, as outlined in the letter of agreement
match to the intent of this RFP or are not well
that will be sent to all successful applicants.
developed or presented. The Foundation will
notify all applicant organizations in writing of
the decision to deny a funding request. Publicity

The HMSA Foundation requires advance

Application Process review before the publication or public
release of any data or information related
A complete proposal will consist of (1)
to projects funded in total or in part by the
original and one (1) copy of the complete
Foundation.
proposal and one copy only of the requested
supporting documents. You may staple or
clip your documents together, but please
08 do not put them in folders, binders or note-
books. Additionally, please do not apply via
telephone facsimile (fax) or email.
(00) 0901-0116 12:05 ey