Addendum No 1 - RFP HS 25-12-HSSA26-CFS-6246-CAPTS RFQ -QA.pdf

Request for Qualifications Children and Family Services Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Services

RFQ HS 25-12/ePro Bid # HSSA26-CFS-6246

ADDENDUM NO. 1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Answers to questions submitted prior to the 4:00 p.m. deadline on April 28, 2026:

1. Question: Could you clarify the required qualifications for Certified Educators? Would a Master’s-level (MSW), Bachelor’s (BSW), or high school diploma with appropriate certification be acceptable?

Answer: Certified Educators must hold a valid Class Facilitator certification (or equivalent certificate) for the specific curriculum they will be facilitating.

While specific degree requirements (e.g., MSW, BSW, or high school diploma) are not expressly mandated, the County will review each staff member’s resume, education, and other credentials to ensure the department’s needs will be met by their services.

2. Question: Can an associate provide services if a licensed staff member at the agency is also providing services, or must the associate be supervised specifically by the licensed individual who is contracted?

Answer: Associates may provide services under this contract only if they are receiving supervision from a licensed clinician in accordance with requirements set by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). The supervising licensed clinician must provide direct clinical supervision of the associate’s services;

the presence of a licensed clinician within the agency alone does not meet this requirement. The supervisor is not required to also provide direct services under the contract; however, they must be approved by the County if they are to supervise associates who are providing services under the contract.

3. Question: Insurance Requirements: Will the associates/licensed professionals personal liability/malpractice coverage be sufficient? Or is broader coverage needed by the non-profit?

Answer: Only Attachment J, Indemnification And Insurance Requirements Affidavit needs to be completed/signed and submitted with application/proposal, however, all of the types of insurance listed in Section X. Terms and Conditions, Paragraph B., Indemnification and Insurance Requirements (pages 51 – 55 of pdf version of RFQ), are required before any services are rendered, unless they do not apply to contracted provider’s situation. For example, Worker’s Compensation would not be required if you did not have any employees. Please provide a copy of insurance policy when submitting certificates of insurance to confirm if this insurance is acceptable, subject to review by Risk Management.

4. Question: The RFQ states “Contractor shall make all efforts to secure alternative funding (Medi-Cal or other private insurance plans), and these efforts must be documented.”

This contract specifies that this program is specifically for those without insurance… What happens if they get insurance? Then how do we bill without a contract? Medi- Cal is difficult to bill for and it takes time to get an IEHP contract (BEST insurance to bill).

Answer: If the client becomes insured, the provider can bill the insurance directly. CFS clients that are being referred under the CAPTS program are typically not covered by insurance.

5. Question: Fee Schedule not listed on proposal. Do we set the fees, or does the contracted provider determine them? And will we be able to review the fee schedule in advance?

Answer: The Maximum Fee Schedule is established by San Bernardino County Children and Family Services and the fee schedule is included in Exhibit E of the RFQ, which is on page 109 of the PDF version of the RFQ. Therefore, Proposers/Contracted Providers will not determine their own rates.

6. Question: Requirement that perpetrator and victim classes not be held at the same site:

Would we need two separate sites for these services?

Answer: While two separate sites are not necessarily needed, the agency should ensure that classes given for perpetrators and classes given for victims do not occur at the same or overlapping times, if using only one site. CFS typically will schedule perpetrator/victim referrals either to different providers or request that they be scheduled on different days/different times.

7. Question: Domestic Violence Services: Can an associate who isn’t yet licensed—but has combined DV training and experience, including victim advocacy and perpetrator treatment through the Safe At Home program – Evidenced Based Treatment Program for DV offenders qualify/meet the requirements for Domestic Violence Services that states requirements are licensed therapist with at least two (2) years’ experience treating survivors and perpetrators?

Answer: DV Counseling must be completed by a licensed therapist who has two years of licensed experience, not by an Associate.

8. Question: Will the County provide the required supplies needed for Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), or are we expected to supply them ourselves? And if we provide them, will we be reimbursed?

Answer: The County will not reimburse or pay for supplies under the awarded contracts.

9. Question: Can Individual/Family/Group Counseling (Minimum of 50 min. face-to-face) be done virtually, or must they be in person?

Answer: Yes, virtual sessions are allowed.

10. Question: Do we select the tests and tools for psychological testing, or will they be predetermined?

Answer: The Social Worker or Courts will request the psychological tests that are mandated. Providers can assess and determine if additional tests or tools are needed. For psychological tests/tools requirements, please see RFQ, Section V. Scope of Work, Paragraph B. Project Description, Item #8. Court Reporting, Subparagraph C (1), Psychological Testing, on page 25 of 58.

11 Question: Case Management: Licensed or non-licensed?

Answer: Case Management can entail different tasks, whereas each task may require a different level of qualification. Section V, Scope of Work, Paragraph B.

Project Description, Item #7, Staffing Requirements for Counseling, Subparagraph C on page 23 of 58:

“Counseling agencies/organization may utilize registered associates to provide some counseling services under an awarded contract. Applicants who use associates in their practice must ensure that appropriate licensed staff supervise the associates’ work performance in accordance with BBS and/or BOP regulations or the appropriate governing body that regulates requirements for licensing”.

12 Question: Under Section V. Scope of Work, Paragraph B. Project Description, Subparagraph

2. Program Requirements, Subparagraph D. Project Description (page 17 of 59 of PDF version of RFQ), regarding report writing & testimony, what kind of agreement needs to be made with the supervisor?

Answer: No specific or separate agreement is required beyond the standard supervisory arrangement required by the relevant licensing board. However, if services are provided by an Associate, the licensed supervisor must be sufficiently knowledgeable about the services delivered and the assessments conducted so that the supervisor can testify in court if required by the County.

It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure supervision practices allow the supervisor to meet this requirement. There are some case file documents that must be signed by the supervising licensed therapist to show they are overseeing the associate (e.g., Progress Reports).

13 Question: The requirement of a minimum of two (2) years licensed experience providing direct counseling and treatment services to children and families, including experience providing age-appropriate therapeutic services to school-aged minors - How does this apply to associates, and what does that experience look like?

Answer: See Question and Answers #2 and #7.

14 Question: Is a Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) case the same as a referral?

Answer: There is a difference between a “Case” and a “Referral”. There are instances when an active case is opened within CFS and a referral is made for services.

A referral can exist without an open case. That is when a Social Worker has met a family that may need services to prevent a future case where a child is removed from the home.

15 Question: On page 26, Section 9, it says "...Groups require a certified educator to conduct these classes. A class ratio cannot exceed fifteen (15) participants to one (1) facilitator." If a facilitator is present to assist and document the class for the certified educator, is that sufficient staffing if a class inadvertently exceeds fifteen students?

Answer: A CE is the person facilitating the group class. Therefore, an additional “facilitator” does not allow for the class size to increase.

16 Question: On page 27, Section C. Program Considerations, Paragraph 6, it states "Contractor may charge a fee for “No Show” appointments and/or cancellations made within less than twenty four (24) hours of scheduled appointment in accordance with Maximum Fee Schedule (Exhibit E) at a rate of fifty percent (50%) of the standard maximum fee for the relevant scheduled services." Does this include classes?

Answer: Yes, this includes classes. The provider can bill 50% of the class fee per class/per client.

17. Question: On page 32,under Paragraph 13. References, it says we need to provide three references from other entities where we have contracts of similar size to this contract. Our agency's work with governmental agencies has been entirely with San Bernardino County and we have no other major contracts. Does this disqualify our agency? If not, what do we submit in lieu of the requested reference letters?

Answer: It does not disqualify you necessarily. If you have worked with three (3) different departments within San Bernardino County, you may list those three

(3) departments as separate references. Alternatively, provide references from private entities in addition to San Bernardino County. If you have not had previous contracts of similar size with public or private entities, list previous contracts of smaller size. You can complete Attachment H in the RFQ and provide explanation of type of work with the provided references.

18. Question: Section VIII, Section A, references "Negotiations". What aspects of the contract would we be required to negotiate?

Answer: Contracted Providers selected for award are not “required” to negotiate their contract. The provision on page 34 of RFQ states that negotiations may be conducted with the highest ranked proposals. Under this procurement, proposals that meet the minimum qualifications may be awarded a contract.

Negotiations are not needed or necessary. In addition, these services have a fee schedule established, and therefore, costs/prices will not be negotiated.

If a proposer wishes to negotiate a specific provision of the contract, the request would be made after vendor selection but prior to signing contract.

19. Question: On page 28 of RFQ under C. Program Considerations, Paragraph 6, it states “Contractors may charge a fee for no show or late cancel (within 24 hours) - Will those occurrences count as an authorized session?

Answer: Yes, if the client is a no show or late cancellation within the referral dates only.

20. Question: On Attachment K, Question #10 (page 13 of 21), would you like us to list our business/admin office hours or hours that therapists could be available?

Answer: The office hours listed should be the hours available for clients to receive services.

21. Question: On Attachment K, Question #11 (page 13 of 21), do we indicate we offer multiple regions based on telehealth services?

Answer: Yes.

22. Question: On Attachment K, Question #12 (page 14 of 21), – the column of check boxes that is entitled “In-Person (yes or no)” does not make sense; Does this column relate to telehealth? How is this different from telehealth outpatient services? Please clarify as in-home services by definition are in-person.

Answer: “In Person” is typically meaning “In office”. There is a premium for services provided in home – when a therapist provides services in the clients’ home.

Telehealth is defined as virtual services.

23. Question: On Attachment K, Question #14 and #15 (page 15 of 21), we serve clients who use private pay insurance through Medi-Cal but we cannot bill Medi-Cal directly. Do we check yes or no on #14?

Answer: The provider can mark “No” if they do not bill Medi-Cal directly. They can note in #15 the types of private insurance plans they do accept, such as IEHP, etc.

24. Question: Attachment K, Question #24 (page 20 of 21), the FIRST part of question #24 is a repeat of question #5: would you like us to copy and paste the answer from #5 and then add the psychological measures we utilize? Or do you want an entirely different response? Other than noting psychological measures used, what else are you seeking for #24?

Answer: Question #24 expands upon Question #5. While Question #5 asks for the therapeutic modalities and techniques used for treatment, Question #24 asks for both the therapeutic techniques/modalities and the psychological testing instruments your agency will utilize. You may repeat or reference the response from Question #5, but be sure to also include the specific psychological measures and testing instruments your agency uses, as additional information is required for Question #24.

25. Question: On the Max Fee Schedule in Exhibit E (page 109 of pdf version of RFQ), please further explain what is Bilingual Services (for transcription of progress reports to English) and how to qualify and denote in the Attachment K questions.

Answer: If a contracted provider offers services in another language other than English, this should be noted on page 11 of 21 on Attachment K, CAPTS Qualifications Application. A contracted provider may charge the Bilingual Services fee for the relevant services listed in the Max. Fee Schedule (Exhibit E) for any progress reports that require transcription to English in addition to any other charges allowed for a specific service.