10. Additional Questions.docx

Questions Solicitation: 15BCTS25Q00000015 - SU/MH/SOT in Rapid City, SD

1. Must the proposed Rapid City treatment location hold South Dakota Department of Social Services accreditation to provide the required outpatient substance use disorder services?

Response: The facility must be appropriately licensed and/or certified to provide all required services on, or by, the contract effective date by the state authority where services will be rendered. [SOW 7.4] In the state of South Dakota, the South Dakota Department of Social Services is the primary umbrella agency managing behavioral health oversight and accredits agency providers. Individual practitioners must be licensed by their respective South Dakota boards. Therefore, the Quoter will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

· A state facility license or certification must be submitted; or

· If in the process of obtaining a valid license or certification, the completed application, provisional license or certification, official email correspondence, and/or other official documentation must be submitted as proof. Documentation must show that the Quoter may begin services on, or by, the contract effective date.

Note: providing only the email for submitting the application does not meet the requirements of this factor and will be deemed unacceptable.

· If a facility license or certification (accreditation) is not required, Quoter must submit official documents, e.g., recent email correspondence from the South Dakota Department of Social Services, or a copy of the current state licensing or certification regulations or statutes, as proof to clearly show that this factor does not apply.

Note: Documentation, such as official email correspondence, must show the Quoter may begin services on, or by, the contract effective date. A business license does not meet the requirements for facility licensure/accreditation.

2. If the prime contractor uses appropriately licensed clinical subcontractors, must the subcontractor's physical treatment location independently hold accreditation?

Response: If the subcontractor’s location is listed as a proposed performance site, then it must meet the criteria in Factor 5 regarding Facility License. As stated in Question #1 above, the South Dakota Department of Social Services is the primary umbrella agency managing behavioral health oversight and accredits agency providers. Individual practitioners must be licensed by their respective South Dakota boards. Therefore, the subcontractor’s location will be evaluated according to the criteria, as described in Question #1.

3. Would the government accept an arrangement in which qualified subcontractor clinicians perform services at a separate, properly accredited Rapid City facility?

Response: Yes, if the proposed performance site meets all the Decisional Rule Criteria.

4. Does the accreditation requirement apply to all treatment categories under this solicitation, or specifically to substance use disorder services?

Response: The South Dakota Department of Social Services accredits Behavioral Health Providers who offer Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Prevention Programs and Community Mental Health Centers. However, it is the responsibility of the Quoter to know how behavioral health services are regulated and approved in South Dakota. The Quoter must be appropriately licensed and/or certified to provide all required services on, or by, the contract effective date by the state authority where services will be rendered.

5. What accreditation or facility authorization documentation must accompany the technical quotation?

Response: See the evaluation criteria outlined in Question #1.