11831_Regulatory_and_Policy_Consulting_Services_Published.pdf

CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH

SOURCING EVENT ID: SFGOV- 0000011831

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 12-2026

REGULATORY AND POLICY CONSULTING SERVICES

FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES

ISSUED: August 17, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 – NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

1.1 Request for Proposals:

1.2 Contract Term:

1.3 Solicitation Schedule:

1.4 Procurement Officer and Delivery Address:

SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

2.1 Obtaining RFP Documents and Addenda:

2.2 Submission of Proposals:

2.3 Request for Clarifications/Questions:

2.4 Proposer’s Minimum Qualifications:

2.5 Pre-Proposal Conference:

SECTION 3 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS

3.1 Local Business Enterprise (LBE) Program Requirements:

3.2 Form of Contract:

3.3 Responsibility of Proposer:

3.4 Public Disclosure:

3.5 Limitation on Communications During Solicitation:

3.6 Proposal Selection Shall Not Imply Acceptance:

3.7 Cybersecurity Risk Assessment:

3.8 Solicitation Errors and Omissions:

3.9 Objections to Solicitation Terms:

3.10 Protest Procedures:

3.11 Proposal Term:

3.12 Revision to Proposal:

3.13 Proposal Errors and Omissions:

3.14 Financial Responsibility:

3.15 Proposer’s Obligations under the Campaign Reform Ordinance:

3.16 Reservations of Rights by the City:

3.17 No Waiver:

3.18 Investigations:

3.19 Insurance:

3.20 Compliance with Law:

3.21 City Nonprofit Supplier Compliance with California Attorney General Registry of Charitable Trusts:

3.22 Licenses, Permits, Fees and Assessments:

3.23 Right to Accept or Reject Proposals:

3.24 Non-Collusion:

3.25 Signed Proposal and Exceptions:

3.26 Green Purchasing Requirements:

3.27 Protected Health Information and Business Associate Agreement

3.28 Protected Health Information

3.29 Exclusion Lists and Employee Verification

3.30 Prevention of Fraud, Waste and Abuse

3.31 Participate in DPH Performance Improvement Process (PIP) and Monitoring

3.32 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA

SECTION 4 – SCOPE OF WORK

4.1 Background:

4.2 Scope of Work:

4.3 Reserved (Schedule):

4.4 Compensation:

SECTION 5 – PROPOSAL FORMAT AND ORGANIZATION

5.1 Proposal Requirements:

5.2 Proposal Content:

SECTION 6 – PROPOSAL EVALUATION, SELECTION PROCESS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT

6.1 Evaluation of Proposals:

6.2 Cost Proposal Scoring:

6.3 Selection Process:

6.4 Award of Contract:

SECTION 7 – CITY’S CONTRACT TERMS

SECTION 8 – RFP ATTACHMENTS

8.1 RFP Attachments:

SECTION 1 – NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

1.1 Request for Proposals:

The Behavioral Health Services (hereinafter “BHS”) division in the Department of Public Health (hereinafter “City” or “DPH”) is requesting proposals from experienced firms (hereinafter “Proposers”) to provide the City with experienced professional staff to support regulatory consulting, policy analysis, program development, project management, data analysis, training, and interagency coordination. These services will enable BHS to implement behavioral health policies, strengthen system operations, and carry out the tasks outlined in the scope of work of this Request for Proposals (hereinafter “RFP”).

1.2 Contract Term:

The anticipated term of the contract will be a five-year term, with five one-year options to extend at the City’s sole, absolute discretion. The City reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to modify the anticipated term, including but not limited to the length of the initial term and any option periods, if the City determines that such modification is in its best interest.

1.3 Solicitation Schedule:

The following is the schedule for this procurement:

Activity Time Date

RFP Published 08/17/2026

Pre-Proposal Conference 10:00AM PT 08/24/2026

Deadline for Questions 5:00PM PT 08/31/2026

Estimated Q&A Addendum Posting 09/08/2026

Deadline to Submit Proposals 2:00PM PT 09/22/2026

Estimated Short-Listing Notification for Interviews

10/09/2026

Estimated Interviews

10/16/2026

Estimated Announcement of Award

10/30/2026

Health Commission Presentation (if applicable)

June 2027

Estimated Start Date

07/01/2027

1.4 Procurement Officer and Delivery Address:

Lisa Lui

City and County of San Francisco – Department of Public Health – Office of Contract Management and Compliance

101 Grove St., Room 410

San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: 628-271-7095

Email: lisa.lui@sfdph.org and sfdph.solicitations@sfdph.org

SECTION 2 – INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

2.1 Obtaining RFP Documents and Addenda:

A. RFP documents including addenda can be found on the San Francisco City Partner site at:

https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/Events-BS3/event-search.aspx

B. Proposers will then need to search the Sourcing Event ID listed above for all related documents. It is the Proposer’s responsibility to check the San Francisco City Partner site regularly to stay current on the documents that are available as this is the primary communication site for this RFP.

C. The City may modify this solicitation, prior to the proposal due date, by issuing an addendum to the solicitation, which will be posted on the San Francisco City Partner site.

Every addendum will create a new version of the sourcing event and Proposers must monitor the event for new versions. The Proposer shall be responsible for ensuring that its proposal reflects any and all addenda issued by the City prior to the proposal due date regardless of when the proposal is submitted. Therefore, the City recommends that the Proposer consult the website frequently, including shortly before the proposal due date, to determine if the Proposer has downloaded all solicitation addenda. It is the responsibility of the Proposer to check for any addenda, and updates, which may be posted to the subject solicitation.

D. The submittal of a response to this solicitation shall explicitly stipulate acceptance by Proposers of the terms found in this solicitation, any and all addenda issued to this solicitation, and the proposed contract terms.

2.2 Submission of Proposals:

A. How to Register as a City Supplier

The following requirements pertain only to Proposers not currently registered with the City as a Supplier.

Step 1: Register as a Bidder at the San Francisco City Partner site:

https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/BidderRegistration-BS3/bidder-registration-1.aspx

Step 2: Follow the step-by-step instructions on SF.gov for converting your Bidder ID to a Supplier ID. This will require you to register with the City Tax Collector’s Office and submit the online 12B Declaration for Article 131 (Equal Benefits Program) compliance through the City Partner site. Once these forms have been completed, submitted, and processed, you will be notified via email with your organization's new Supplier ID. That email will also provide instructions for completing your Supplier registration.

1. City Business Tax Registration Inquiries: For questions regarding business tax registration procedures and requirements, contact the Tax Collector’s Office at (415) 554- 4400 or, if calling from within the City and County of San Francisco, 311.

2. Equal Benefits Program Inquiries: For questions concerning the San Francisco Labor and Employment Code Articles 131 and 132, go to: www.sfgov.org/cmd.

B. Time and Place for Submission of Proposals

1. Prior to the proposal submission deadline, Proposers must upload their complete Proposals into the San Francisco City Partner site:

https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/pages/index.aspx.

2. Each original proposal received will be screened to ensure that all content required by this solicitation is included. Partial or complete omission of any required content may disqualify proposal from further consideration. Failure to adhere to the above requirements may result in the complete rejection of your proposal.

3. Proposers should upload and submit their proposals to the San Francisco City Partner site as early as possible to allow time for any technical issues. The site will automatically close at the submission deadline, and late proposals will not be accepted. Uploading a proposal is not enough, Proposers must press "Submit" before the deadline.

4. Proposals must be received by the due date and time shown in the RFP. Proposals that are submitted by email will not be accepted.

5. Proposals must be submitted through the San Francisco City Partner site. However, if the site is not functioning, Proposers must notify the Procurement Officer listed in Section

1.4 (Procurement Officer and Delivery Address) and provide proof of the issue. In such cases, proposals may be delivered in person as a backup. The deadline for in-person delivery is the same as the deadline for submission via the San Francisco City Partner site. The City is not responsible for proposals lost or not delivered by your courier of choice. Courier or package tracking is recommended if you use in-person delivery. If delivering by mail or courier, please email a tracking # (if available) or notice of mailing to the Procurement Officer listed in this RFP.

2.3 Request for Clarifications/Questions:

A. Questions must be submitted by email to the Procurement Officer whose name and contact information listed in Section 1.4 (Procurement Officer and Delivery Address) of this solicitation no later than e-questions due date. Questions received after this date and time may not be answered.

B. Only questions that have been resolved by formal written addenda to this solicitation will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal or contractual effect.

2.4 Proposer’s Minimum Qualifications:

Proposers must provide documentation that clearly demonstrates each Minimum Qualification (MQ) listed below has been met. Minimum Qualification documentation should be clearly marked as “MQ1”, MQ2”, etc.… to indicate which MQ it supports. Each proposal will be reviewed for initial determination on whether Proposer meets the MQs referenced in this section. This screening is a pass or fail determination and a proposal that fails to meet the Minimum Qualifications will not be eligible for further consideration in the evaluation process. The City reserves the right to request clarifications from Proposers prior to rejecting a proposal for failure to meet the Minimum Qualifications.

MQ

Description

MQ1

Proposer must have at least three years of cumulative experience within the last ten years providing consulting, project management, or operational support services to public health settings or behavioral health organizations. The required experience must be met at the time of proposal submission.

Third party documentation for this experience must be included in the proposal.

Acceptable third-party documents include contract agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and/or letters of attestation from current or past customers.

2.5 Pre-Proposal Conference:

All Proposers are highly encouraged to attend this conference to learn more about the requirements of this solicitation.

Pre-Proposal Conference

August 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT via Microsoft Teams

Join by Microsoft Teams Link, copied below for convenience:

Microsoft Teams Link

Meeting ID: 296 831 939 815 56

Passcode: Ah2m6Aj9

Or call in (audio only)

+1 415-906-4659,,295261837# United States, San Francisco

Phone Conference ID: 295 261 837#

SECTION 3 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS

3.1 Local Business Enterprise (LBE) Program Requirements:

A. Contract Monitoring Division (CMD) Compliance Officer

The CMD Compliance Officer (CCO) for this solicitation and any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation is:

Seth Benkle

Contract Monitoring Division

City and County of San Francisco

Phone: 650-821-7796

Email: Seth.Benkle@sfgov.org

Website: www.sfgov.org/cmd.

B. Application of LBE Rating Bonuses

LBE Rating Bonuses shall be applicable to each phase of the solicitation evaluation and selection process, in accordance with the values shown below. For the purposes of Chapter 14B requirements only, and not the final contract amount in any executed contract, the “Estimated Contract Value” for each contract awarded under this RFP is greater than $400,000 but less than or equal to $10,000,000.

1. Reserved (Commodities)

2. General and Professional Services

Estimated Contract Value

Small/Micro LBEs Rating Bonus

SBA LBEs Rating Bonus

Greater than $20,000 but less than or equal to $400,000.

10% 0%

Greater than $400,000 but less than or equal to $10,000,000.

10% 5%

So long as it does not adversely affect a Small or Micro-LBE Proposer’s participation or, for Professional Services, a JV Proposer’s participation.

Greater than $10,000,000 but less than or equal to $20,000,000.

2% 2%

3. Professional Services by Joint Ventures

Estimated Contract Value

Small/Micro LBE Subcontracting Level

Rating Bonus

Greater than $20,000 Equals or exceeds 35%, 5% but less than or equal to $10,000,000.

but less than 40%

Equals or exceeds 40%, but less than 100%

7.5%

100% 10%

If applying for an LBE rating discount as a Joint Venture (JV), the Micro and /or Small-

LBE must be an active partner in the JV and perform work, manage the job and take financial risks in proportion to the required level of participation stated in the proposal, and must be responsible for a clearly defined portion of the work to be performed and share in the ownership, control, management responsibilities, risks, and profits of the

JV. The portion of the Micro and/or Small-LBE JV’s work shall be set forth in detail separately from the work to be performed by the non-LBE JV. The Micro and/or Small-

LBE JV’s portion of the contract must be assigned a commercially useful function.

4. Sample Rating Bonus Calculations

ABC Firm Price Proposal Attributes

• Is a Certified Micro

LBE

Possible Maximum Score

14B LBE Rating Bonus (2%)

Evaluated Total Score

Minimum Qualifications Pass N/A N/A

Technical Proposal 100 2 102

Cost Proposal 50 1 51

Total 150 3 153

C. LBE Subcontracting Participation Requirements

There shall be no LBE Subcontracting Requirement for any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation because the LBE Subcontracting Requirements were waived by the Contract Monitoring Division under Waiver No. 14BPREBID0002999.

D. CMD LBE Forms

Failure to complete, sign and submit each of the required CMD LBE Forms with proposal may result in the submission being deemed non-responsive and rejected.

Although LBE Subcontracting Participation Requirements do not apply to contracts awarded under this solicitation, any Proposer that is a certified LBE must still complete and submit Attachment E (CMD LBE Form 2A).

3.2 Form of Contract:

A. The selected Proposer will be required to enter into a contract substantially in the form presented in Attachment M (City’s Contract Terms). Please note that the exhibits are intentionally not complete in the attached sample standard document. These exhibits will be conformed to reflect any changes made through the solicitation process and will appear in the final Professional Services contract executed between the parties.

B. Failure or refusal to enter into a contract as herein provided or to conform to any of the stipulated requirements in connection therewith shall be just cause for an annulment of the award. If the highest scoring Proposer refuses or fails to execute the contract, or the contract is terminated, the City may, at its sole discretion, enter in contract with and award the contract to the second highest scoring Proposer, and so on.

3.3 Responsibility of Proposer:

A. Qualification of Proposers

The selected Proposer must possess all qualifications required for the contract and be capable of performing the work for which the Proposer is being called. If applicable, the successful Proposer and/or Proposer’s staff must be properly licensed and/or certified according to the requirements outlined in this solicitation and remain in good standing for the duration of the contract. Any failure to demonstrate satisfaction of one or more of the requirements, if requested by the City, will be considered sufficient for the disqualification of the Proposer as non-responsive and will entitle the City to terminate negotiations and move to the next highest-scoring Proposer for contract award.

B. Notice of Intent to Award – Required Documentation

After the City issues a Notice of Intent to Award and prior to contract award, the selected Proposer must be registered and in good standing with the government entities listed below and is solely responsible for ensuring that its legal name, including any DBA, is accurate, consistent, and identical across all registrations, filings, and submitted documents, and exactly matches the legal name provided to the City. Any discrepancies must be corrected, including updating registrations or records as needed, within ten calendar days of the issuance of the Notice of Intent to Award. Failure to demonstrate compliance or begin correcting any discrepancies within the ten-calendar day period may result in the Proposer being deemed nonresponsive. Failure to remain in good standing for the duration of the contract will entitle the City to immediately terminate the contract for default, with no opportunity to cure.

1. Proposer is in good standing with the California Secretary of State;

2. Proposer is in good standing with the Franchise Tax Board;

3. Proposer is in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service;

4. Proposer (if a non-profit) is in good standing with California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts per the City’s Policy and Procedures regarding City Nonprofit Supplier Compliance with California Attorney General Registry of Charitable Trusts;

5. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) – applicable to state funded contracts;

6. System for Award Management (SAM) – applicable to federally funded contracts.

3.4 Public Disclosure:

A. All documents under this solicitation process are subject to public disclosure per the California Public Records Act (California Government Code Section §6250 et. Seq) and the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance (San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 67).

contracts, Proposals, responses, and all other records of communications between the City and Proposers shall be open to inspection immediately after a contract has been awarded.

Nothing in this Administrative Code provision requires the disclosure of a private person’s or organization’s net worth or other proprietary financial data submitted for qualification for a contract or other benefit until and unless that person or organization is awarded the contract or benefit.

B. If the City receives a Public Records Request (“Request”) pertaining to this solicitation, City will use its best efforts to notify the affected Proposer(s) of the Request and to provide the Proposer with a description of the material that the City deems responsive and the due date for disclosure (“Response Date”). If the Proposer asserts that some or all of the material requested contains or reveals valuable trade secret or other information belonging to the Proposer that is exempt from disclosure and directs the City in writing to withhold such material from production (“Withholding Directive”), then the City will comply with the Withholding Directive on the condition that the Proposer seeks judicial relief on or before the Response Date. Should Proposer fail to seek judicial relief on or before the Response Date, the City shall proceed with the disclosure of responsive documents.

3.5 Limitation on Communications During Solicitation:

From the date this solicitation is issued until the date the competitive process of this solicitation is completed (either by cancelation or issuance of Notice of Intent to Award), Proposers and their subcontractors, vendors, representatives and/or other parties under Proposer’s control, shall communicate solely with the Procurement Officer whose name appears in this solicitation. Any attempt to communicate with any party other than the Procurement Officer whose name appears in this solicitation – including any City official, representative or employee – is strictly prohibited.

Failure to comply with this communications protocol may, at the sole discretion of City, result in the disqualification of the Proposer or potential Proposer from the competitive process. This protocol does not apply to communications with the City regarding business not related to this solicitation.

3.6 Proposal Selection Shall Not Imply Acceptance:

The acceptance and/or selection of any proposal shall not imply acceptance by the City of all terms of the proposal, which may be subject to further approvals before the City may be legally bound thereby.

3.7 Cybersecurity Risk Assessment:

A. As part of City’s evaluation process, City may engage in Cybersecurity Risk Assessment (CRA). CRA may be performed for each entity manufacturing the product, performing technical functions related to the product’s performance, and/or accessing City’s networks and systems. Where a prime Proposer or reseller plays an active role in each of these activities, CRA may also be required for the prime Proposer or reseller.

B. To conduct a CRA, City may collect as part of this solicitation process one of the following two reports:

1. SOC-2 Type 2 Report: Report on Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality or Privacy; or

2. City’s Cyber Risk Assessment Questionnaire: Proposer’s responses to a City’s Cyber Risk Assessment Questionnaire.

3. The above reports may be requested at such time City has selected or is considering a potential Proposer. The reports will be evaluated by the soliciting Department and the City’s Department of Technology to identify existing or potential cyber risks to City.

Should such risks be identified, City may afford a potential Proposer an opportunity to cure such risk within a period of time deemed reasonable to City. Such remediation and continuing compliance shall be subject to City’s on-going review and audit through industry-standard methodologies, including but not limited to: on-site visits, review of the entities’ cybersecurity program, penetration testing, and/or code reviews.

3.8 Solicitation Errors and Omissions:

Proposers are responsible for reviewing all portions of this solicitation. Proposers are to promptly notify the City, in writing and to the Procurement Officer if the Proposer discovers any ambiguity, discrepancy, omission, or other error in the solicitation. Any such notification should be directed to the City promptly after discovery, but in no event later than the deadline for questions.

Modifications and clarifications will be made by addenda.

3.9 Objections to Solicitation Terms:

Should a Proposer object on any ground to any provision or legal requirement set forth in this solicitation, the Proposer must, no later than the deadline for questions, provide written notice to the City setting forth with specificity the grounds for the objection. The failure of a Proposer to object in the manner set forth in this paragraph shall constitute a complete and irrevocable waiver of any such objection.

3.10 Protest Procedures:

A. Protest of Solicitation Content

Any Proposer who contends that the terms, conditions, or specifications of this solicitation are unduly restrictive, improperly limit competition, or appear to be written in a manner that favors a particular vendor, may submit a written protest of the solicitation content. Such protest must be received by the City no later than the deadline for submission of questions as set forth in the solicitation schedule. The written protest must clearly identify each allegedly restrictive specification, explain in detail why the specification is deemed restrictive or biased, and include all supporting facts, evidence, and any applicable law, rule, ordinance, or procedure. The protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the Proposer.

Failure to submit a timely protest will be deemed a waiver of the Proposer’s right to challenge the content of the solicitation.

B. Protest of Non-Responsiveness Determination

Within three business days of the City's issuance of a Notice of Non-Responsiveness, a Proposer may submit a written Notice of Protest of Non-Responsiveness. The Notice of Protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The Notice of Protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the Proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or solicitation provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the Notice of Protest must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the City to determine the validity of the protest.

C. Protest of Non-Responsible Determination

Within three business days of the City's issuance of a Notice of Non-Responsibility, a Proposer may submit a written Notice of Protest of Non-Responsibility. The Notice of Protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The Notice of Protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the Proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or solicitation provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the Notice of Protest must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the City to determine the validity of the protest.

D. Protest of Contract Award

Within three business days of the City's issuance of a Notice of Intent to Award, a Proposer may submit a written Notice of Protest of Contract Award. The Notice of Protest must include a written statement specifying in detail each and every one of the grounds asserted for the protest. The Notice of Protest must be signed by an individual authorized to represent the Proposer, and must cite the law, rule, local ordinance, procedure or solicitation provision on which the protest is based. In addition, the Notice of Protest must specify facts and evidence sufficient for the City to determine the validity of the protest. Please note that a disagreement with how an individual evaluator scored a proposal does not constitute valid grounds for a protest.

E. Delivery of Protests

A Notice of Protest must be delivered to the Procurement Officer whose name and contact information appears in this solicitation, and to My Lan Do Nguyen, Manager of Contractual Pre-Award, at mylando.nguyen@sfdph.org. A Notice of Protest must be written; protests made orally (e.g., by telephone) will not be considered. It must be transmitted by a means that will objectively establish the date the City received the Notice of Protest, and received by the due dates stated above. If a Notice of Protest is mailed, the protestor bears the risk of non-delivery within the deadlines specified herein.

3.11 Proposal Term:

Submission of a proposal signifies that the proposed products, services and prices are valid for 180 calendar days from the proposal due date and that the quoted prices are genuine and not the result of collusion or any other anti-competitive activity. At Proposer’s election, the proposal may remain valid beyond the 180-day period. The City reserves the right to award additional contracts under this solicitation if additional funding becomes available or programmatic needs change. Such awards may be made to Proposers that submitted proposals in response to this solicitation, whether or not they were selected for an initial award, provided the Proposers met the Minimum Qualifications and their proposals were determined to be responsive. Any additional awards must occur during the initial contract term identified in Section 1.2 (Contract Term) of this solicitation (excluding any options to extend) and will be limited to the scope of services, products, and pricing proposed by the Proposers as of the deadline identified in Section 1.3 (Solicitation Schedule) as the “Deadline to Submit Proposals.”

3.12 Revision to Proposal:

A Proposer may revise a proposal on the Proposer’s own initiative at any time before the deadline for submission of proposals. The Proposer must submit the revised proposal in the same manner as the original. A revised proposal must be received on or before, but no later than the proposal due date and time. In no case will a statement of intent to submit a revised proposal, or commencement of a revision process, extend the proposal due date for any Proposer. At any time during the Proposal evaluation process, the City may require a Proposer to provide oral or written clarification of its Proposal. The City reserves the right to make an award without further clarifications of proposals received.

3.13 Proposal Errors and Omissions:

Failure by the City to object to an error, omission, or deviation in the proposal will in no way modify the solicitation or excuse the Proposer from full compliance with the specifications of this solicitation or any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation.

3.14 Financial Responsibility:

The City accepts no financial responsibility for any costs incurred by a Proposer in responding to this solicitation. Proposers acknowledge and agree that their submissions in response to this solicitation will become the property of the City and may be used by the City in any way deemed appropriate.

3.15 Proposer’s Obligations under the Campaign Reform Ordinance:

A. If a contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation has (A) a value of $100,000 or more in a fiscal year and (B) requires the approval of an elected City official, Proposers are hereby advised:

B. Submission of a proposal in response to this solicitation may subject the Proposers to restrictions under Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 1.126, which prohibits City Contractors, Proposers, and their affiliates from making political contributions to certain City elective officers and candidates; and

C. Before submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, Proposers are required to notify their affiliates and subcontractors listed in the awarded contract or proposal of the political contribution restrictions set forth in Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code section 1.126.

D. This restriction applies to the party seeking the contract, the party’s board of directors, chairperson, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, any person with an ownership interest greater than 10%, and any political committees controlled or sponsored by the party, as well as any subcontractors listed in the awarded contract or proposal. The law both prohibits the donor from giving contributions and prohibits the elected official from soliciting or accepting them.

E. The people and entities listed in the preceding paragraph may not make a campaign contribution to the elected official at any time from the submission of a proposal for a contract until either: (1) negotiations are terminated and no contract is awarded; or (2) twelve months have elapsed since the award of the contract.

F. A violation of Section 1.126 may result in criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. For further information, Proposers should contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at (415) 252- 3100 or go to:

https://sfethics.org/compliance/city-officers/city-contracts/city-departments/notifying-bidders-and-potential-bidders.

3.16 Reservations of Rights by the City:

The issuance of this solicitation does not constitute a guarantee by the City that a contract will be awarded or executed by the City. The City expressly reserves the right at any time to:

1. Waive or correct any defect or informality in any response, proposal, or proposal procedure;

2. Reject any or all proposals;

3. Reissue the solicitation;

4. Prior to submission deadline for proposals, modify all or any portion of the selection procedures, including deadlines for accepting responses, the specifications or requirements for any materials, equipment or services to be provided under this solicitation, or the requirements for contents or format of the proposals;

5. Procure any materials, equipment or services specified in this solicitation by any other means; or

6. Determine that the subject goods or services are no longer necessary.

3.17 No Waiver:

No waiver by the City of any provision of this solicitation shall be implied from the City’s failure to recognize or take action on account of a Proposer’s failure to comply with this solicitation.

3.18 Investigations:

A. The City may make such investigation, as it deems necessary, prior to the award of this contract to determine the conditions under which the goods are to be delivered or the work is to be performed. Factors considered by the City shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Any condition set forth in this solicitation;

2. Adequacy of Proposer’s plant facilities and/or equipment, location and personnel location to properly perform all services called for under the Purchase Order; and

3. Delivery time(s).

B. City reserves the right to inspect an awarded Proposer’s place of business prior to award of and/or at any time during the contract term (or any extension thereof) to aid City in determining an awarded Proposer’s capabilities and qualifications.

C. Failure to timely execute a contract, or to furnish any and all insurance certificates and policy endorsements, surety bonds or other materials required in the contract, shall be deemed an abandonment of a contract offer. The City, in its sole discretion, may select another Proposer and may proceed against the original selectee for damages.

D. City reserves the right to reject any proposal on which the information submitted by Proposer fails to satisfy City and/or if Proposer is unable to supply the information and documentation required by this solicitation within the period of time requested.

E. Any false statements made by a Proposer or any related communication/clarification may result in the disqualification of its proposal from receiving further evaluation and a contract award.

3.19 Insurance:

Insurance provisions are contained in Attachment M (City’s Contract Terms) included in the solicitation. The successful Proposer will be required to comply with these provisions. It is recommended that Proposers have their insurance provider review the insurance provisions before they submit their proposal.

3.20 Compliance with Law:

Proposer warrants that all services rendered shall be performed in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinances, lawful orders, rules, and regulations.

3.21 City Nonprofit Supplier Compliance with California Attorney General Registry of Charitable Trusts:

Nonprofit Proposers are required to review the City’s Policy and Procedures regarding City Nonprofit Supplier Compliance with California Attorney General Registry of Charitable Trusts. To receive a contract under this solicitation, any nonprofit Proposer must be in good standing with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts by the time of contract execution and must remain in good standing during the term of the contract. Upon request, Proposer must provide documentation to the City demonstrating its good standing with applicable legal requirements. If Proposer will use any nonprofit subcontractors to perform the contract, Proposer will be responsible for ensuring they are also in compliance with all requirements of the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts at the time of contract execution and for the duration of the contract.

3.22 Licenses, Permits, Fees and Assessments:

Proposer represents and warrants to City that it will obtain all licenses, permits, qualifications, and approvals of whatever nature that are legally required to practice its profession and perform the work and services requested in this solicitation. Proposer represents and warrants to City that Proposer shall, at its sole cost and expense, keep in effect at all times during the term of the contract if so awarded, any license, permit, qualification, or approval that is legally required for Proposer to perform the work and services under the contract if so awarded. Proposer shall have the sole obligation to pay for any fees, assessments, and taxes, plus applicable penalties, and interest, which may be imposed by law and arise from or are necessary for the Proposer’s performance of the work and services required under the contract if so awarded. Proposer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless City against any such fees, assessments, taxes, penalties, or interest levied, assessed, or imposed against City to the fullest extent permitted by law.

3.23 Right to Accept or Reject Proposals:

The City reserves the right to waive any informality or technical defect in a proposal and to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any or all proposals and to cancel all or part of this solicitation and seek new proposals, as best serves the interests of the City. The City furthermore reserves the right to contract separately with others certain tasks if deemed in the best interest of the City.

3.24 Non-Collusion:

The undersigned, by submission of proposal, hereby declares that the proposal is made without collusion with any other business making any other proposal, or which otherwise would make a proposal.

3.25 Signed Proposal and Exceptions:

Submission of a signed proposal will be interpreted to mean that the firm responding to this RFP has hereby agreed to all the terms and conditions set forth in the solicitation, and any attached sample contract. Exceptions to any of the language in either the solicitation documents or attached sample contract, including the insurance requirements, must be requested under the request for clarifications/questions process by the deadline for questions. Any requested changes to the contract will be considered at that time and if changes are allowed, they will be sent out through an addendum to all Proposers. Exceptions to the City’s solicitation document or standard boilerplate language, insurance requirements, terms, or conditions, etc. may only be considered during the early stage of the solicitation process; and shall not be included in the submitted proposals. The City makes no guarantee that any exceptions will be approved but will consider any requests put forward in the request for clarification/question process.

3.26 Green Purchasing Requirements:

In preparation for any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation, Proposers are required to review the City Mandatory Green Purchasing Requirements to ensure all goods and services offered to City in response to this solicitation comply with the City’s Green Purchasing Requirements. In addition, Proposers are encouraged to refer to the Attachment M (City’s Contract Terms), for additional details related to the Green Purchasing Requirements applicable to any contract awarded pursuant to this solicitation.

3.27 Protected Health Information and Business Associate Agreement

The City is a Covered Entity as defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") and must comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule governing the access, use, disclosure, transmission, and storage of protected health information (PHI), and with the Security Rule under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, Public Law 111-005 ("the HITECH Act").

A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) applies to this solicitation if the services described will require Proposer to do one or more of the following:

A. Create, receive, maintain, or transmit PHI for or on behalf of City/DPH (including storage of PHI, digital or hard copy, even if Proposer does not view the PHI or only does so on a random or infrequent basis); or

B. Receive PHI, or access to PHI, from City/DPH or another Business Associate of City, as part of providing a service to or for City/DPH, including legal, actuarial, accounting, consulting, data aggregation, management, administrative, accreditation, or financial; or

C. Transmit PHI data for City/DPH and require access on a regular basis to such PHI, (such as health information exchanges (HIEs), e-prescribing gateways, or electronic health record vendors).

If any of the above apply, Proposer will be a Business Associate of City/DPH as defined under HIPAA. The DPH Business Associate Agreement will automatically become part of any resulting contract, and Proposer must comply with its terms.

If none of the above apply, Proposer will not be a Business Associate of City/DPH, and the DPH Business Associate Agreement will not apply to any resulting contract.

3.28 Protected Health Information

Proposer, and any subcontractors, agents, and employees of Proposer or its subcontractors, must comply with all federal and state laws governing the transmission, storage, and protection of private health information disclosed by City in the performance of any resulting contract. Any failure to comply with federal, state, or local privacy laws will be a material breach of the contract.

If City pays a regulatory fine or is assessed civil penalties or damages through private rights of action based on an impermissible use or disclosure of protected health information given to Proposer or its subcontractors or agents by City, Proposer will indemnify City for the amount of such fine, penalties, or damages, including notification costs. In addition to any other remedies available under equity or law, City may terminate the contract in such an event.

3.29 Exclusion Lists and Employee Verification

Upon hire and monthly thereafter, Proposer must check the exclusion lists published by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), General Services Administration (GSA), and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to confirm that no employee, temporary employee, volunteer, consultant, or governing body member responsible for overseeing, administering, or delivering state or federally funded services appears on these lists. Anyone on an exclusion list may not work on the program or with the agency. Proposer must retain proof of these checks for seven years.

3.30 Prevention of Fraud, Waste and Abuse

Proposer must comply with all laws designed to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse, including provisions of state and federal law applicable to healthcare providers and transactions, such as the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729 et seq.), the Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a- 7b(b)), the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law, 42 U.S.C. § 1395nn), and California Business & Professions Code § 650. Proposer must immediately notify City of any suspected fraud, waste, or abuse under state or federal law.

3.31 Participate in DPH Performance Improvement Process (PIP) and Monitoring

DPH requires vendors to participate in periodic and annual review of the contract deliverables.

DPH will work with the Proposer to select appropriate measurable data to use as a measure of satisfactory delivery of the service or products. This may include delivering various reports or data periodically to DPH.

3.32 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA

If the technology to be procured under this solicitation will be public facing (i.e., members of the public will use it to learn about, apply for, pay for, or otherwise access City services or information), the following requirements apply: A Proposer selected pursuant to this solicitation shall adhere to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1201 et seq.), including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, as specified in the Department of Justice's Title II Rule on the accessibility of web content and mobile applications. The awarded Proposer shall ensure that all information content and technology provided under the resulting contract fully conforms to the Department of Justice's Title II rules and, where applicable, the applicable Revised 508 Standard, prior to delivery and before the City's final acceptance of the services and/or deliverables.

SECTION 4 – SCOPE OF WORK

4.1 Background:

The San Francisco Department of Public Health (hereinafter “DPH”) works to protect and promote the health of all residents, with a focus on supporting communities that face greater barriers to care. Behavioral Health Services (hereinafter “BHS”), a division of DPH, operates the City’s core mental health and substance‑use programs, providing prevention, treatment, and recovery services across the lifespan.

BHS is currently implementing a wide range of new legislative and policy changes that require substantial operational adjustments. These include new workflows, expanded interagency coordination, enhanced data reporting, and strengthened communications. To meet these evolving requirements, BHS seeks a Contractor to provide staff with specialized expertise in policy implementation, project management, data analysis, and system‑level coordination. This support is essential to ensure service quality, regulatory compliance, and equitable access to care across all populations within San Francisco, particularly for individuals who are gravely disabled and unable to navigate the system independently.

4.2 Scope of Work:

A. Service Overview

The Contractor will provide qualified staff to strengthen BHS system operations related to behavioral health policy implementation, expanded Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorship processes, involuntary hold programs, designated facility oversight, discharge planning improvements, cross‑agency initiatives, and the development of training and certification programs.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to, organizing and facilitating interagency collaboration; developing workflows, procedural tools and communications; supporting data reporting needs; contributing to public‑private partnership structures; and ensuring compliance with all evolving local, state, and federal regulations.

The Contractor will also provide indirect support services such as progress reporting, maintenance of project plans, preparation of documentation, meeting management, development of communication materials, and use of project‑management tools to ensure coordinated, timely, and implementation of behavioral health initiatives across the system.

B. Qualifications and Requirements

1. Expertise and Competencies

The Contractor’s assigned staff shall meet the following:

a. Expertise in consulting, training development, leading trainings, and providing technical assistance to public health professionals,

b. Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret complex public health data using surveys, statistical analysis, and evaluation tools,

c. Competence in conducting community needs assessments and developing recommendations that support strategic, operational, and financial decision‑making, and

d. Skills in designing and implementing process and outcome evaluations at project, program, or organizational levels within public health settings.

2. Education and/or Certification

The Contractor’s assigned staff shall meet at least one of the following requirements:

a. Possession of a Bachelor’s degree or higher in public health or a related field,

b. Completion of a general project-management course or a project-management-in-public-health certification, and/or

c. A minimum of three years of project management experience in public health and completion of project management coursework.

3. Professional Experience

The Contractor’s assigned staff shall have a minimum of three of experience of the following:

a. Implementation or project management support for public health or healthcare programs, including planning, organizing, and overseeing programs or projects, and

b. Design and implement evaluations or community needs assessments.

4. Specialized Experience

The Contractor’s assigned staff shall have experience providing at least one of the following regulatory and policy consulting services in public health settings:

a. Organizational development,

b. Technical assistance, and/or

c. Training services.

Contractor must maintain documentation of all required qualifications in personnel files.

Documentation must be made available to the City upon request. Failure to provide valid credentials may result in immediate termination of assignment.

C. Responsibilities and Deliverables

1. Core Programmatic Responsibilities

The Contractor shall provide:

a. Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Conservatorship System Implementation support, including interagency coordination and workflow updates.

b. Data collection, analytics, and reporting, including LPS and SB 929 reporting.

c. Oversight of Designated Facilities to ensure compliance with the LPS Act, BHS policies, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) regulations.

d. Support for local policy priorities, including 5150 process improvements, Breaking the Cycle initiatives, and expansion of locked sub-acute beds.

e. Coordination of 5150 training, testing, and certification processes.

2. Operational Responsibilities

The Contractor shall:

a. Organize trainings, develop workflows, facilitate interagency problem-solving.

b. Conduct research, identify system gaps, and support process improve.

c. Support the collection, organization, and reporting of program data.

d. Assist with development of MOUs, agreements, budget tracking, and partnership structures.

3. Administrative Deliverables

The Contractor shall provide BHS with:

a. Quarterly progress reports, or additional reports as requested.

b. Updated project plans and timelines.

c. Comprehensive documentation of planning and implementation efforts.

d. Communication materials, including presentations and written resources.

e. Meeting management support, including agendas, minutes, and action-item tracking.

f. Use of project-management tools for SB43, conservatorship, 5150, and related initiatives.

4.3 Reserved (Schedule):

4.4 Compensation:

A. Price.

Work will be compensated on an hourly basis for actual hours worked at the rates allowed by the Agreement. Contract pricing includes all labor, expenses, and incidentals to complete the work outlined in the Agreement scope. The Contractor may request monthly payments based on the hours of work completed for the previous month, as long as hours worked support the amount requested.