ACCS RFI_Final.pdf

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Department of Mental Health

Division of Mental Health Services

Reprocurement of Adult Community Clinical Services (ACCS)

Request for Information

COMMBUYS # BD-27-1022-DMH08-8220A-133767

Issued: September 24, 2026

All interested individuals and entities are invited to respond to any or all of the questions set forth in this Requests For Information (RFI). Responses to this RFI shall serve solely to assist the Department of Mental Health (DMH) in understanding viable program design options in the development of a potential future solicitation. This RFI does not in any way obligate the

Department to issue or amend a solicitation. Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary and will not affect the Department’s consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent solicitation, nor will it serve as an advantage or disadvantage to a respondent in the course of any subsequent solicitation.

Request for Information: The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is issuing this RFI to solicit information from a broad spectrum of interested parties and individuals regarding Adult

Community Clinical Services (ACCS). Specifically, DMH intends to reprocure ACCS in calendar year 2027 and seeks input related to aspects of the service model, including but not limited to staffing, service components, risk management, contract size and specifications, as well as the personal experience of persons who are receiving or have received ACCS services, their family members, caregivers, and guardians.

Purpose of RFI: The purpose of this RFI is to supplement listening sessions (COMMBUYS –

Bid Solicitation - BD-27-1022-DMH08-8220A-133098) directed to ACCS service providers, individuals, and families, currently providing, receiving, or having received ACCS services, through the solicitation of information to help DMH understand how or whether to modify the existing service model. DMH is interested in feedback from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including those who did not participate in the listening sessions, and those who participated but have further feedback. DMH will include the information collected through this RFI with other information collected through internal and external listening sessions to inform the development of an ACCS Request for Response (RFR). Interested organizations and individuals are invited to provide DMH with their perspectives on the design and implementation of ACCS.

I. Background:

A. Budgetary Authorization: This Bid is issued under the following law(s): MGL c. 29, §

29B; MGL c. 7, § 22; 801 CMR 21.00; 808 CMR 1.00; 815 CMR 3.00; the Federal Single

Audit Act and Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200, Subpart F).

B. ACCS Model: The Department of Mental Health (DMH) last procured Adult Community

Clinical Services (ACCS) in November 2017. ACCS is a comprehensive clinically focused service anchored by a multi-disciplinary team that provides clinical coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through an integrated team led by clinical staff. ACCS

Integrated Teams provide clinical interventions and peer and family support to facilitate engagement, support functioning and maximize symptom stabilization and self-management of individuals residing in all housing settings. In addition, Contractors are responsible for providing a range of contractor-based housing options as treatment settings to assist individuals in developing skills, establishing natural supports and resources to live successfully in the community. ACCS is rooted in evidence-based practices and informed by national standards, including those disseminated by the Substance Abuse & Mental

Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Individuals must be authorized by DMH prior to receiving ACCS services and must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.

II. Subject of Response

DMH is interested in receiving impressions from a wide variety of stakeholders related to the ACCS model, its implementation, and ideas for potential design and implementation improvements. This RFI is intended to supplement information gathered through ACCS

Listening Sessions, though respondents do not need to adhere to the topics or format of those sessions. Respondents may submit feedback on any aspect of ACCS deemed relevant. Feedback should be submitted according to the instructions provided in Section

IV.

III. Submission and Response Requirement

1. Due Date

To ensure review and consideration by DMH, responses must be submitted to DMH by

Monday, November 30, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST. However, we encourage interested parties to submit responses early.

2. Submission Format

Respondents can submit their response(s) EITHER through COMMBUYS or by email.

a. To Submit Through COMMBUYS:

Files submitted via COMMBUYS must follow the following file naming convention:

respondent’s name followed by: DMH_ACCS_RFI_Response.

Example file name: Jane_Doe_DMH_ACCS_RFI_Response

If a respondent has any issues utilizing COMMBUYS, they should contact the

COMMBUYS Help Desk at COMMBUYS@mass.gov or call during normal business hours (8AM – 5PM Monday – Friday) at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-3197.

See also the following job aid for assistance: https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-to-create-a-quote-in-commbuys/download.

b. To Submit By Email:

Responses submitted via email must be sent to Elizabeth.Welch@mass.gov by the

Due Date specified above and in the Response Format specified in IV.3 below.

DMH will accept Microsoft Word and PDF documents.

3. Response Format

Responses must be in writing using US Letter Size (8 ½ X 11-inch) document size, 12-point Times New Roman font, and single-spaced.

Create a header that includes the following on each page:

Contact/Name:

Organization Name (if applicable):

Telephone #:

Email:

Insert page numbers in the footer of the document.

Please limit your response to no more than 5 pages. Do not include marketing or promotional material with your response. This information will be disregarded on review.

Please keep your responses to key points to help facilitate review.

http://www.commbuys.com/bso http://www.commbuys.com/bso mailto:COMMBUYS@mass.gov https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-to-create-a-quote-in-commbuys/download https://www.mass.gov/doc/how-to-create-a-quote-in-commbuys/download mailto:Elizabeth.Welch@mass.gov

4. Reasonable Accommodation

Respondents with disabilities or hardships who seek reasonable accommodations in responding to this RFI must communicate such requests by e-mail to Elizabeth Welch at

Elizabeth.Welch@mass.gov. Requests for accommodation will be addressed on a case by case basis. DMH reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests.

IV. Additional RFI Information

1. Use of Information and Costs

Responses to this RFI may be reviewed, evaluated and shared by and with any person(s) at the discretion of DMH, including but not limited to other agencies within EOHHS and independent consultants.

Responses to this RFI become the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are public records under the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 and c. 4, § 7, cl. 26, regarding public access to such documents. However, information provided to DMH in response to this RFI and identified by the respondent as trade secrets or commercial or financial information shall be kept confidential and shall be exempt from disclosure as a public record (see M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 26). This exemption may not apply to information submitted in response to any subsequent procurement.

Any cost incurred in responding to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, are the sole responsibility of respondent. The DMH shall not be held responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing their respective responses to this RFI.

2. RFI Access

This RFI has been distributed electronically using the Commonwealth Procurement

Access and Solicitation System (COMMBUYS). COMMBUYS is an electronic mechanism used for advertising and distributing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ’ procurements and related files. No individual may alter (manually or electronically) the

RFI or its components except those portions intended to collect the respondent’s response. Interested parties may access COMMBUYS at the following address:

http://www.commbuys.com. Questions specific to COMMBUYS should be made to the

COMMBUYS Help Desk at commbuys@mass.gov.

3. RFI Amendments

Interested parties are solely responsible for checking COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications that are subsequently made to this RFI. The DMH accepts no liability and will provide no accommodation to interested parties who fail to check for amendments to the RFI.

4. Future Procurements

DMH reserves the right to accept or reject, in part or in full, any information contained in or submitted in response to this RFI. The RFI is not binding on DMH and shall not obligate DMH to issue a procurement that incorporates any RFI provisions or responses.

Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary, will in no way affect DMH’s consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent procurement, and will not serve as an advantage or disadvantage to the respondent in the course of any procurement that may be issued.

V. Thank You

DMH appreciates the time and consideration you invest in responding to this RFI.

http://www.commbuys.com/ mailto:commbuys@mass.gov