AMENDMENT TWO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.pdf

pg. 1

SAP

State of South Carolina

AMENDMENT 2

Solicitation:

Date Issued:

Procurement Officer:

Phone:

E-Mail Address:

Mailing Address:

5400025374 8/15/2023 Daniel W. Covey

(803) 898-8176 daniel.covey@dss.sc.gov SC Department of Social Services Attn: Procurement Office - Room 421 PO Box 1520 Columbia SC 29202-1520

DESCRIPTION: Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)

USING GOVERNMENTAL UNIT: SOCIAL SERVICES DEPT

SUBMIT YOUR OFFER ON-LINE AT THE FOLLOWING URL: http://www.procurement.sc.gov

SUBMIT OFFER BY (Opening Date/Time): 08/23/2023 2:00 PM ET (See "Deadline for Submission of Offer" provision)

QUESTIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY: 07/14/2023 5:00 PM (See "Questions from Offerors" provision)

NUMBER OF COPIES TO BE SUBMITTED:

CONFERENCE TYPE: non-Mandatory

DATE & TIME: 07/12/2023, 11:00 AM

(As appropriate, see "Conferences - Pre-Bid/Proposal" & "Site Visit" provisions)

LOCATION: DSS will hold the prebid meeting virtually via Teams. CONFERENCE - PRE-BID/PROPOSAL (JAN 2006) on page 14 for information about accessing this meeting.

AWARD &

AMENDMENTS

Award will be posted on 09/06/2023. The award, this solicitation, any amendments, and any related notices will be posted at the following web address: http://www.procurement.sc.gov

You must submit a signed copy of this form with Your Offer. By signing, You agree to be bound by the terms of the Solicitation. You agree to hold Your Offer open for a minimum of sixty (60) calendar days after the Opening Date. (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

NAME OF OFFEROR

(Full legal name of business submitting the offer)

Any award issued will be issued to, and the contract will be formed with, the entity identified as the Offeror. The entity named as the offeror must be a single and distinct legal entity. Do not use the name of a branch office or a division of a larger entity if the branch or division is not a separate legal entity, i.e., a separate corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.

AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

(Person must be authorized to submit binding offer to contract on behalf of Offeror.)

DATE SIGNED

TITLE

(Business title of person signing above)

STATE VENDOR NO.

(Register to Obtain S.C. Vendor No. at www.procurement.sc.gov )

PRINTED NAME

(Printed name of person signing above)

STATE OF INCORPORATION

(If you are a corporation, identify the state of incorporation.)

OFFEROR'S TYPE OF ENTITY: (Check one) (See "Signing Your Offer" provision.)

___ Sole Proprietorship ___ Partnership ___ Other_____________________________

___ Corporate entity (not tax-exempt) ___ Corporation (tax-exempt) ___ Government entity (federal, state, or local)

COVER PAGE - ON-LINE ONLY (MAR. 2015)

http://www.procurement.sc.gov/ http://www.procurement.sc.gov/ http://www.procurement.sc.gov/

pg. 2

PAGE TWO

(Return Page Two with Your Offer)

HOME OFFICE ADDRESS (Address for offeror's home office / principal place of business)

NOTICE ADDRESS (Address to which all procurement and contract related notices should be sent.) (See "Notice" clause)

_________________________________________________ Area Code - Number - Extension Facsimile

_________________________________________________ E-mail Address

PAYMENT ADDRESS (Address to which payments will be sent.)

(See "Payment" clause)

____Payment Address same as Home Office Address ____Payment Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

ORDER ADDRESS (Address to which purchase orders will be sent) (See "Purchase Orders and "Contract Documents" clauses)

____Order Address same as Home Office Address ____Order Address same as Notice Address (check only one)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENTS

Offerors acknowledges receipt of amendments by indicating amendment number and its date of issue. (See "Amendments to Solicitation" Provision) Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date Amendment No. Amendment Issue

Date

DISCOUNT FOR

PROMPT PAYMENT

(See "Discount for Prompt

Payment" clause)

10 Calendar Days (%) 20 Calendar Days (%) 30 Calendar Days (%) _____Calendar Days (%)

PREFERENCES - A NOTICE TO VENDORS (SEP. 2009) Preferences do not apply to Fixed Price Bids per SC Consolidated Procurement Code Section 11-35-1524, E (3) PREFERENCES - ADDRESS AND PHONE OF IN-STATE OFFICE: Preferences do not apply to Fixed Price Bids per SC Consolidated Procurement Code Section 11-35-1524, E (3)

PAGE TWO (SEP 2009) End of PAGE TWO

pg. 3

AMENDMENTS TO SOLICITATION (a) The Solicitation may be amended at any time prior to opening.

All actual and prospective Offerors should monitor the following web site for the issuance of Amendments:

https://procurement.sc.gov (b) Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of any amendment to this solicitation (1) by signing and returning the amendment, (2) by identifying the amendment number and date in the space provided for this purpose on Page Two, (3) by letter, or (4) by submitting a bid that indicates in some way that the bidder received the amendment. (c) If this solicitation is amended, then all terms and conditions which are not modified remain unchanged.

This solicitation is amended to incorporate the following:

Questions and Answers – see attached pages 4 throug11.

Intentionally Left Blank https://procurement.sc.gov/

# Attachment Name Section // Page Reference Question Proposed Change States Response

1 Fixed Price Bid Document page 16 //Section B 2nd sentence Insurance in reference is Medicaid? Yes, all foster children qualify for

Medicaid.

2 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C 3 Phases of care: Referral include pre-placement interview

There will not be a pre-placement interview. The QI must make an independent evaluation and the courts also play a large roll in approving the placement.

3 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C #1

2nd bullet - MDTs should be included as it is required by law.

Also, it may not be appropriate to have the family member present until it has been determined the family is not involved in the trafficking.

Include MDT

QRTP programs do not have programming specific for trafficking. The CFTM structure can be modified to accommodate for any safety precautions. If there is already a court order in place that does not allow certain individuals to have contact this will be followed.

4 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C #1

3rd bullet - MDT should be had when discussing discharge to ensure it is safe for the child to return home.

The CFTM will be the vehicle the state uses to determine this. MDT members can be included in needed.

5 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C #3 How will the CANS assess children with CSEC needs?

Include the Sex Trafficking Assessment Tool

The CANS has a trafficking module already built in.

6 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C #3

What hearing will approve the placement?

What happens if court is continued, and the court hasn't decided within 60 days?

N/A The judicial review will be a paper review by the judge.

7 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 17 // Section C #3 3rd bullet - All members of the Child and Family Team

MDT members should be included

If MDT members are needed they will be included in the CFTM.

8 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 18 // Section C #8

A preplacement discussion needs to be had with the potential resident prior to coming to Doors to Freedom to ensure the child is ready to embrace the program. This allows the child to choose her next step.

Proven to be very empowering.

Determining if trafficked victims

Safety should be considered

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

were trafficked by the same pimp is also a consideration that needs to be made prior to placing them in the same facility. Doors to Freedom would not take girls that were trafficked together or if one of the girls was a bottom girl for one of the girls we already had in the program.

We have had more than one case where we had to deny a child due to being trafficked by the same pimp.

9 Fixed Price Bid Document

Page 19 // Section C #8

Most of the UA's we received do not have adequate information about the child's trafficking experience.

Information is gathered from previous caseworkers and /or law enforcement before we can consider a child for placement. Again, the family needs to be cleared by Law Enforcement for Familiar Trafficking before reunification with the family can be considered.

Safety should be considered

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

10 Fixed Price Bid Document

Page 20 // Section C #11 & 12

A trafficked child would not be safe alone in the hospital if a phone is in the room. Contact with their pimp/bottom girl would be made.

Also, overnight visits are not allowed while in our program for safety reasons.

Safety should be considered

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

11 Fixed Price Bid Document

CANS assessment would be provided -- who completes this?

Provider or DSS Caseworker? If Caseworker completes, does provider have to reference in diagnostic if inaccurate?

SCDSS completes the CANS, the CANS is not diagnostic. The child must be clinically assessed prior to the development of a treatment plan.

12 Fixed Price Bid Document

DA to - include a six (6) month history of prescribed medications, over the counter medications, and alcohol and other drug use (AOD)

Sometimes the caseworker does not have this information and most of the time the resident is guarded about this information or doesn't remember over the past 6 months.

SCDSS will provide all information known at the time of the approved placement. If there is not 6 months of history available this can be documented by the provider.

13 Fixed Price Bid Document

DA completed within 72 hours of admittance

14 days provides residents with more time to build rapport and acclimate. It gives opportunity for a more honest and accurate diagnostic assessment. The quality of the DA is better as well because it provides time for completion and revisions.

SCDSS believes that it is critical that a clinical assessment be conducted within 72 hours of placement.

14 Fixed Price Bid Document

Youth who are age fourteen and older have the right to have someone of their choosing involved in the

CFTM.

Safety should be considered

Safety is always considered, this is a federal requirement for youth being considered for QRTP.

15 Fixed Price Bid Document

Provider must facilitate outreach and communication with the youth’s siblings. Provider must engage families no less than once a week via phone, virtually, or in-person, with in-person engagement being best practice. The Provider must document contact information in the progress summary note. How the outreach is made (including contact information) as well as maintaining contact information for any known biological family and fictive kin must be documented.

Safety should be considered. It might not always be practical or doable to engage the family weekly.

The expectation is no less than once a week. If safety is or becomes a concern, the child’s safety and best interest should always be considered.

16 Fixed Price Bid Document

The initial child and family treatment planning meeting shall occur within the first five (5) business days of QRTP placement. Provider shall schedule the meeting at a time that is convenient for the family.

Is this a Child and Family Team meeting? Is the provider planning this? Safety should be considered before engaging the Family in meetings (Familial Trafficking). This timeframe is not practical.

This is the providers responsibility.

This is the treatment planning meeting within the context of a

CFTM.

17 Fixed Price Bid Document

Provider must submit to the Department their proposed Treatment Plan Template and the proposed template must be approved by the Department before the Provider implements it in their practice.

Is this similar to audits? Or is this for each treatment plan content to be approved prior to presenting to the residents? Can this be our IGP, or does this need to be completed by a Clinician?

What is the definition of a treatment plan?

This is the initial child and family treatment plan that is informed by the family with the licensed therapist.

18 Fixed Price Bid Document

Visitation plan for the first visit after the youth enters treatment and, ideally, more frequent, longer, and community-based visits over time.

Safety should be considered.

Safety and the child’s best interest is always considered.

19 Fixed Price Bid Document

"Family therapy at least two (2) times per month by a clinical service provider"

For the CSEC population family therapy typically does not occur until after the trauma therapy is completed.

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

This recommendation falls outside of the guidelines for QRTP.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

20 Fixed Price Bid Document

"Education must be delivered in an outside setting and any alternative school setting must be approved by SCDSS. Authorization for alternative school setting will not be unreasonably withheld by SCDSS. A QRTP must ensure the educational needs of the child are met in accordance with the IEP or 504 plans." Will the use of our Private School be of any issue?

For the CSEC population within our program safety regarding the school needs to be a priority consideration.

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

21 Fixed Price Bid Document

Page 24 -25 // #5

Discharge - Require at least 2 months prior to discharge - An MDT would also need to be held to ensure the entire therapeutic team can speak to discharge. Safety should be considered prior to discharge; 10 days prior to discharge is not practical as information will be missed on the discharge summary.

Currently, send discharges 5 days after discharge.

MDT; Safety 1st; 10 days prior to discharge not practical;

Attachment A - pg. 12 - AC2 states No later than 30 days... in youth's record and sent to the person or agency making the referral. That is very reasonable.

SCDSS does not agree with changing this section.

22 Fixed Price Bid Document

Page 25 // E - First two bullets

Placement requirements, Prior to placement, will the qualified individual (TSC) also be qualified to assess the child for trafficking? Will a pre-placement conversation still be possible? 30 and 60-day assessments should take into consideration her trafficking case.

Safety should be considered prior to discharging a child back home. If transitioning to a Foster Family, the

Pre-placement interview: Sex Trafficking Tool assessment to ensure child qualifies for Doors to Freedom's program; 30 /60-day assessments should also include assessment of her trafficking case. Familiar Trafficking? Safe to return home, even if an unknown perp?

This scope of work is not specific programming for trafficking victims.

Safety in any consideration for return home will always be first.

foster family should be trained in CSEC, and her entire Therapeutic Team (MDT)/ Child and Family Team Meeting be in agreement.

23 Fixed Price Bid Document Page 25 - 26 // 1. After Care Support //bullet 6

If action is warranted due to a safety risk or potential placement dissolution, QRTP is responsible for contacting who?

SCDSS

24 Attachment A Page 2 // Family First for QRTPs 3rd bullet

What is the process of slowing this down if the family is still being investigated for potential of trafficking concerns?

This is the federal law attached to QRTP under FFPSA.

25 Attachment A Page 2 // Family First for QRTPs 4th bullet

Need clarification on 4th bullet.

Coordinate with SCDSS and Select Health...

Select Health will help set up aftercare services with the provider.

26 Attachment A

Page 2 // Family First for QRTPs 6th bullet

Would the QI not qualify before placement at Doors? Can we have QRTP contract and another contract at the same time? Like previous facilities had Level 1 and Level 3 within the same facility.

No

27 Attachment A Page 2 // Family First for QRTPs 7th bullet

Which hearing is this referencing? Is the provider still privy to attend this hearing to speak to the need for the level of care?

This is a judicial review and is a paper review by the judge.

28 Attachment A

Page 2 // Family First for QRTPs 8th bullet

If over 12 months what is being considered within this review to determine if placement is still needed?

Provider would need to provide a justification why the child needs to stay longer and how the goals will be met with extension request. This information would then be sent to the State Director for review.

29 Attachment A Page 3 // Application Process // Designation Period

Will this continue for five years with how the bid explains?

This is a 2-year period not 5-year.

30 Attachment A Page 3 // Application Process // Designation Renewal

This is why clarity is needed regarding 5 years of funding or two years of the contract being awarded.

You still must meet the eligibility requirements to continue on contract.

31 Attachment A Page 5 // Program Information Is a fax number required? We are not requiring a fax number.

32 Attachment A

Page 5 // Program Information

How do we know this will stay undisclosed? Who has access to this information with CAPSS?

The application will be reviewed by State Office Licensing and Procurement. SCDSS employees are the only ones who have access to this information in CAPSS.

33 Attachment A

Part 2: Document Instructions/ Trauma Informed Model (Sect 1)

PO4. Our application asks if applicant has experienced trauma?

and we have staff profiles if they choose to share their experience.

Will this suffice to meet this criterion?

This section is related to your programs trauma informed model.

Not to personal experiences of trauma for staff.

34 Attachment A Part 2: Document Instructions/ Trauma Informed Model (Sect 1)

PE4. Will this be NA since we only work with Female survivors

You would be required to accommodate any safety concerns related to the individuals gender identity.

35 Attachment A

Page 9 Screening, Assessment and Treatment Services

SA4 - peer supports. We use caution in this area within the home due to power and control dynamics experience with trafficking survivors. However, structured groups - life skill groups, DBT skills, and similar are used for peer supports. Will this qualify?

The provider is required to articulate “how” this is being addressed in the programming.

36 Attachment A

SA 5 - We are an all-female population due to serving only female survivors of sex trafficking

The provider would be required to meet the gender specific needs of any youth placed.

37 Attachment A F13 - client peer or employee peer?

line items withing the budge for both This section pertains to staff.

38 Attachment A

AC3, AC9 - what are the stipulation for an unsuccessful discharge? Is a 6-day notice still allowed?

AC3-This section is not about unsuccessful discharge. It is about family-based aftercare support.

AC9-SCDSS would be legal guardian and contact.

39 Attachment A AC11 - Will we be expected to visit face to face if the environment the child resides is unsafe? Reunites with trafficker, drugs, domestic violence, etc.?

Face to Face meetings IF recommended by the legal guardian which is SCDSS.

40 Attachment C

Provider Critical Incident

Can we use our formatting if it captures all the same information?

"Clinical review as required by the contract" Where is that defined in the contract? Could not find this term in the contract. "Administrative review is defined as the name of individual completing an administrative review as required by the contract” Where is administrative reviewer defined in the contract? Can this be any staff?

(pg. 32 -33 Safety Interventions and Emergency)

This is a required form the provider must use when reporting critical incidents. This is a part of the group care contract as well.

Safety Interventions are in the group home regulations including the definitions.

41 Attachment B Some personal growth worksheets are rooted in CBT and DBT therapy modules to build these skills. Does this count towards utilizing these modules or does it need to be formalized "therapy session" where they are engaging in these modules?

How many are required? We are contracted with local providers who also provide formalized "therapy sessions"

Attachment B is giving you examples and CBT and DBT are included.

Youth are required to engage in formalized therapy twice monthly.

42 Attachment B Currently we utilize CBT in personal growth assignments, Motivational interviewing in meetings with HSP/CC's, DBT skills weekly for residents through a contracted provider who comes on site, TF-CBT through contracted providers for formalized "therapy sessions" weekly for residents (as recommended by therapy provider).

We have a staff working towards certification in EMDR. TBRI was taught to staff based on information learned from their model and article -- do these count?

Do we need to add more forms or is this sufficient?

(Psychological First Aid is a free training all staff could complete as part of onboarding...)

Attachment B is not prescriptive and not an exclusive list.

43 CANS Assessment Is there training for this assessment?

It is not clear of how to administer this assessment. Does DSS complete this assessment or the Provider?

Trafficking is not mentioned on this assessment.

SCDSS completes the CANS, there is a trafficking screening module built into the CANS.

44 Fixed Price Bid Document

Services corresponding to billing by type of service, units of service and dates of service (with month, day, and year).

What would this look like (i.e., billing by type of service and units of service). Is this insurance related?

We need documentation related to what you are billing Medicaid for.

END OF AMENDMENT TWO