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San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health Request for Qualifications Children’s Residential Intensive Services RFQ No. DBH 25-99 ePro Bid #DBHE26-ADMN-6420
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR
Children’s Residential Intensive Services
RFQ DBH 25-99
ePro Bid #DBHE26-ADMN-6420
ADDENDUM NO. 1
Answers to questions submitted prior to the 12:00 p.m. deadline on September 24, 2026
| 1. |
| Question: |
| Is there a minimum or maximum number of residential beds required for a participating STRTP? |
| Answer: |
| No minimum or maximum number of beds is established by this RFQ. Proposers should identify the number of San Bernardino County youth they anticipate serving under the contract. Proposers should also be aware that STRTP bed capacity and facility structure may affect whether DHCS determines a facility to be an Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD), which may impact eligibility for federal Medicaid funding. |
| 2. |
| Question: |
| Does the County have an anticipated or historical average length of stay for youth receiving ChRIS services? Is there a maximum expected length of stay? |
| Answer: |
| The average ChRIS episode length during FY 2025-26 was approximately six months. There is no established maximum length of stay; the duration of services is based on the youth's individual clinical needs and continued medical necessity. |
| 3. |
| Question: |
| The RFQ indicates that payment is based on actual units of billable services and rates in the DBH claiming system. Could the County provide the applicable ChRIS reimbursement rates or a rate schedule for the services covered under this RFQ? |
| Answer: |
| DBH Fee-for-Service (FFS) reimbursement rates for contracted programs are established based on program category. Category 1 programs are reimbursed at 70% of the applicable DHCS hourly payment rate, while Category 2 programs are reimbursed at 75%. ChRIS is designated as a Category 2 program; therefore, applicable billable services are reimbursed at 75% of the corresponding DHCS payment. |
| 4. |
| Question: |
| Is there a maximum annual allocation or reimbursement amount per provider, youth, or residential bed? If so, could you please provide the applicable limits? |
| Answer: |
| There is no predetermined maximum annual allocation per provider or youth established through the RFQ. There are no allocations or reimbursements for beds. Proposers should use the applicable budget schedules to identify their proposed annual allocation. Final allocations will be negotiated with the Program Manager based on the proposed service delivery model and anticipated number of San Bernardino County youth to be served. Following contract award, providers may request modifications to their annual allocation with appropriate justification and a structured breakdown supporting the request. |
| 5. |
| Question: |
| We understand from the RFQ that services are provided at the provider’s STRTP facility and that the proposer must identify the facility and submit a floor plan. Can you please confirm that the provider is responsible for securing and operating the residential facility? |
| Answer: |
| Yes. The provider is responsible for securing and operating the residential facility and for maintaining the facility in compliance with applicable CDSS licensing requirements and STRTP Interim Licensing Standards. |
| 6. |
| Question: |
| Does the provider need to own the STRTP facility, or is a leased facility acceptable? If leasing is permitted, are there any specific requirements regarding the lease or control of the facility? |
| Answer: |
| The facility may be owned or leased by the proposer. Regardless of ownership, the provider is responsible for maintaining the facility and grounds in accordance with applicable licensing requirements and the facility requirements identified in the RFQ, including maintaining interior and exterior areas, furnishings, appliances, yards, and outdoor activity areas in a safe, clean, sanitary, and well-maintained condition. Please refer to pages 44-45 of the RFQ for the applicable facility requirements. |
| 7. |
| Question: |
| The RFQ states that the proposer must have a current STRTP license or provisional STRTP license and include a copy with the response. Could you please confirm whether this license must be in place at the time of proposal submission, or whether a provider developing a new facility may obtain the facility and required licensing after award, but prior to the contract/service start date? |
| Answer: |
| For purposes of this RFQ, the proposer must have a current provisional STRTP license or STRTP license at the time of proposal submission and must include documentation of the license with its proposal. |
| 8. |
| Question: |
| How many children are served by the current contractors each year? What ages are served by these contractors? |
| Answer: |
| During FY 2025-26, ChRIS served 714 clients. Approximately 12.5% were ages 6-12, 72.5% were ages 13-17, and 15% were nonminor dependents. |
| 9. |
| Question: |
| What is the average length of stay? |
| Answer: |
| See Answer for Question No. 2. |
| 10. |
| Question: |
| Is a CARF accreditation needed for a THP? On the RFQ it’s asking for it for STRTPs so not sure if it also applies to THPs. |
| Answer: |
| Transitional Housing Programs (THPs) are not eligible to apply under this RFQ. The accreditation requirements identified in the RFQ apply to eligible STRTP applicants. |
| 11. |
| Question: |
| We operate on STRTP program at two licensed locations. Do we submit one combined ChRIS proposal covering both locations? Or does DBH require a separate response for each location? |
| Answer: |
| Only one proposal is required per agency. The proposal may include multiple STRTP sites and associated licenses. |
| 12. |
| Question: |
| For one STRTP program operating at two licensed locations, should Schedule A and Schedule B be completed separately for each location for each fiscal year? If certain program costs are shared across both locations, how should those shared costs be allocated? |
| Answer: |
| Only one budget schedule is required for the agency for each fiscal year, even if the proposal includes multiple STRTP sites. Because ChRIS uses a Fee-for-Service reimbursement structure, the budget schedule should identify the required Service Delivery Staff information. Providers are reimbursed based on actual eligible units of service provided rather than reimbursement of general operational costs. |
| 13. |
| Question: |
| If psychiatric Medication Support services are provided through an outside psychiatric provider, does DBH require the provider to be identified as a subcontractor with Attachment F and an MOU with original signatures, or is another form of service agreement/documentation acceptable? |
| Answer: |
| No. An agency is not required to establish a subcontract or MOU with an outpatient provider solely because that provider provides Medication Support Services to ChRIS youth. However, the proposal should clearly describe how Medication Support Services will be accessed and coordinated when those services are provided through an outside provider. |
| 14. |
| Question: |
| The RFQ provides for ChRIS services during placement and for up to two months after a child/youth leaves the STRTP. Can DBH clarify the expected scope of ChRIS services during this transition period and the types of discharge or step-down placements to which the post-STRTP service requirement applies? |
| Answer: |
| Youth enrolled in ChRIS remain eligible for the applicable array of Specialty Mental Health Services during the transition period based on their individual clinical needs. Through the Child and Family Team process, providers should proactively develop and coordinate step-down and transition plans to support continuity of care and minimize gaps in services. |
Step-down settings may include, for example, a family-based placement supported by High Fidelity Wraparound or other community-based services. Transition and aftercare services may also support movement from one STRTP to another when clinically appropriate. The purpose of these transition, bridging, and aftercare services is to support continuity and coordination of care consistent with Integrated Core Practice Model principles.
| 15. |
| Question: |
| Does DBH expect Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) to be provided directly by the ChRIS contractor, or may TBS be coordinated/provided through the appropriate provider when medically necessary and authorized? |
| Answer: |
| TBS may be coordinated with and provided by an appropriately contracted TBS provider when the service is medically necessary and applicable requirements are met. A proposer may also include TBS within its ChRIS proposal if the agency is seeking to provide the service directly to eligible ChRIS youth. |
| 16. |
| Question: |
| Beyond facilitating, tracking, and documenting completion of the PSC-35 by the appropriate caregiver, is the ChRIS contractor responsible for any additional submission, data entry, or reporting requirements related to the PSC-35? |
| Answer: |
| Yes. Applicable PSC-35 information must also be entered into Objective Arts, including documentation when the response is "No Caregiver Available." |
| 17. |
| Question: |
| For proposal and budget-development purposes, does DBH have an expected or recommended assumption regarding the number of unduplicated youth to be served or anticipated utilization at each STRTP location? |
| Answer: |
| Proposers should determine the number of San Bernardino County youth they reasonably anticipate serving each year and develop their proposed budget accordingly. The County cannot guarantee a minimum or maximum number of referrals or enrollments under any contract awarded through this RFQ. Awarded providers must also provide San Bernardino County Children and Family Services and Probation the first opportunity for placement when a vacancy becomes available within the STRTP, consistent with the requirements of the RFQ. |
| 18. |
| Question: |
| If an STRTP provider is in the process of updating its Program Statement and proposed target population, should the ChRIS proposal describe the provider's currently approved population, proposed population, or both? How should pending Program Statement changes be identified in the proposal? |
| Answer: |
| The proposal should describe the target population currently approved in the STRTP's Program Statement. The proposer may also identify proposed changes that are currently pending review or approval; however, those proposed changes should be clearly distinguished from the provider's currently approved Program Statement. |
| 19. |
| Question: |
| For the facility requirements in Attachment B, are floor plans identifying the required clinical and meeting spaces sufficient, or does DBH also expect photographs of the interior/exterior or other facility documentation? |
| Answer: |
| The proposer should provide a floor plan identifying the required clinical and meeting spaces, including the room designations specified in the RFQ. The proposal should also include a written description of the facility's exterior, including the front and rear yard, as requested in Attachment B. Photographs or additional facility documentation are not specifically required by the RFQ. |
| 20. |
| Question: |
| References: May a proposer identify San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health as a reference on Attachment K based on an existing/current contractual relationship with DBH, or should references be limited to organizations/agencies that are not part of the County or involved in this solicitation? |
| Answer: |
| No, the proposer may not identify DBH as a reference. |
| 21. |
| Question: |
| Effective August 20, 2026, prior authorization is no longer required for Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS). For purposes of the ChRIS proposal, service delivery, and budgeting, can DBH clarify how proposers should address IHBS under the current requirements, including whether IHBS should continue to be identified as a separate ChRIS service and/or budget line item? |
| Answer: |
| Although prior authorization is no longer required for IHBS under DHCS BHIN 26-030, IHBS must continue to be clinically appropriate and medically necessary, coordinated through the Child and Family Team and with Intensive Care Coordination (ICC), as applicable, and supported by clinical documentation consistent with Medi-Cal requirements. |
Proposers should describe how they will assess the need for IHBS and how the service will be provided to eligible ChRIS youth. IHBS remains identified as a separate service function within the budget schedule; therefore, proposers should identify the anticipated percentage of service delivery allocated to IHBS.
| 22. |
| Question: |
| We are in the process of transferring our license to a new facility, how do we address that in the proposal or how would we add the new facility to the contract in the future? |
| Answer: |
| For purposes of the RFQ, the proposer should provide information regarding its current STRTP license and may identify any pending facility or licensing changes in the proposal. Any subsequent change in location or addition of a new STRTP site is subject to applicable State licensing and certification requirements and prior DBH approval. |
If a contracted provider seeks to change its service location, the provider must formally request the applicable contract modification/change order. Before services may be provided at a new location, the provider must also satisfy applicable State requirements, including maintenance of required licensure and Medi-Cal certification and any required fire clearance.
| 23. |
| Question: |
| Are there providers without STRTP eligibility? |
| Answer: |
| For purposes of this RFQ, eligible proposers must have a current provisional STRTP license or STRTP license and include a copy of the applicable license with their RFQ response. Proposers must also have applied for, or currently hold, national accreditation through an approved accrediting organization, including the Council on Accreditation (COA), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), or The Joint Commission (TJC), and must include documentation of the accreditation or application status with their response. |
| 24. |
| Question: |
| Will the contract be broken into San Bernardino County regions? |
| Answer: |
| The STRTP license is based on where the home is located. There may even be STRTPs that are outside of the County. |
| 25. |
| Question: |
| Do current contracted providers need to submit a Proposal? |
| Answer: |
| Yes. All current contracts end December 31, 2026. If an agency wishes to continue their partnership with San Bernardino County DBH for ChRIS program, they will need to submit a full Proposal for consideration. |
| 27. |
| Question: |
| I cannot get into my ePro. Who do I contact? |
| Answer: |
| For ePro concerns you will contact Purchasing at (909) 387-2060 or epro.vendor@pur.sbcounty.gov |
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