Clinical Team RFR FINAL_Reopen 5_26 for CW ~1.docx

DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE (RFR)

Clinical Team: Reopened for Central West Region Only June 4, 2026

40 Broad Street, 4th Floor Boston, MA 02109

I. RFR INFORMATION

A. SUMMARY OF PROCUREMENT:

The Department of Developmental services (DDS) intends to purchase Clinical resources to strengthen the support systems for individuals and families and to prevent and/or mitigate acute behavioral and/or psychiatric episodes which may result in an out of home placement. All components must be available locally and meet the cultural, linguistic and ethnic needs of individuals served.

This service provides a clinical resource team with expertise in intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, behavior analysis and therapy, and other clinical interventions. The team is available for consultation, education, evaluation, crisis plan development, interventions, behavioral treatment and/or direct support to individuals and their families. Clinical team is the focal point in emergency situations and is responsible for helping stabilize or placing an individual in a stable situation. On-call availability is required.

Clinical Teams support the Department by providing the following:

· Emergency Response: Professionals with behavioral and psychiatric expertise available on a 24 hour basis to provide emergency response, consultation, stabilization, diversion and assistance for individuals in crisis.

· Crisis Plan Development: Professionals with behavioral and psychiatric expertise to develop individual crisis plan for use when situation develops that is beyond the capacity of an individual’s existing support systems.

· Prevention and Intervention: Intervention to stabilize challenging situations and preclude the need for emergency services

· Specialized outpatient intervention and clinical assessment to include but not limited to: counseling, diagnostic evaluation, risk assessment, legal competent evaluations and other specialized assessment as requested.

Not all Clinical Teams will be engaged to provide all of the above services. The specific needs and availability of other services will determine what Clinical Team components the Central West region will purchase from qualified providers. Providers who do not provide all of the above services may still qualify under this procurement.

This is a qualification RFR and any number of providers may be qualified and sign a Master Agreement contract. The Department is reopening the RFR to qualify additional Clinical Team providers for the Central West Region only.

For DDS, these services are currently contracted using Activity Code 3170. From time to time, the Department may change the activity code that is used to purchase these services in order to gain detail about types of programming being purchased and services targeted to specific populations, meet data collection needs associated with Federal reimbursements, address federal waiver requirements, or for other administrative or programmatic reasons.

B. PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACT STRUCTURE

This Request for Response incorporates all relevant provisions of 801 CMR 21.00 Procurement of Commodities and Services, the Standard Contract Form and the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Human and Social Services, Attachment C (attached), Operational Services Division’s REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS for POS published dated September 1, 2019 which is posted with this RFR, and any updates to these Specifications during the life of this procurement.

Bidders responding to this RFR will submit a single application. Applications will be reviewed by a Procurement Management Team (PMT) which will consist of representatives from the Central West Regional Office and Area Offices. All bidders awarded a contract to provide Clinical Team services as a result of this reopened RFR will sign a standard contract form and will be placed on a Master Agreement.

C. DISTRIBUTION OF RFR

This RFR has been distributed electronically using the Commonwealth of Massachusetts COMMBUYS system. COMMBUYS is the official system of record for all procurement information. It is publicly accessible at no charge. All documents posted on COMMBUYS are incorporated into any contracts resulting from this RFR.

Bidders may not alter (manually or electronically) the Solicitation language or any Solicitation component files, except as directed in the RFR. Modifications to the body of the Solicitation, specifications, terms and conditions, or which change the intent of this Solicitation are prohibited and may disqualify a Response.

It is the responsibility of every bidder to check COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications to a solicitation for which they intend to respond. The Commonwealth and its subdivisions accept no liability and will provide no accommodation to bidders that submit a response based upon an out-of-date solicitation document.

All Bidders responding to this RFR agree that: (1) they will maintain an active vendor account in COMMBUYS, and (2) in the event the Commonwealth adopts an alternate eProcurement system, successful Bidders will be required to utilize such system, as directed by the procuring entity.

Interested bidders are required to complete the Vendor Registration process in COMMBUYS in order to receive information regarding bid opportunities or receive bid awards. More information on the COMMBUYS system, can be found at: COMMBUYS - /view/login/login.xhtml

D. SINGLE OR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATION:

This procurement will result in the establishment of a Master Agreement for use by the Department of Developmental Services. Other Departments may contract pursuant to this RFR under separate contract execution. The Master Agreement contract will be a rate contract without a maximum obligation.

E. BASIS OF REIMBURSEMENT/ACQUISITION METHOD

The Departments will primarily engage qualified Providers that have signed a Master Agreement contract to deliver Clinical Team services through a Service Summary Form (SSF). Other mechanisms maybe used at the discretion of each Department.

The SSF will document staffing levels and professional expertise the Department anticipates purchasing based on current and planned enrollments, a monthly or daily accommodation rate and an allocated expenditure amount.

Clinical Team will be reimbursed through rates and regulations established by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services These rates and regulations may be amended during the life of this procurement. Current rates for Clinical Team can be found in 101 CMR 424.00, Rates for Certain Developmental and Support Services

During the life of this contract, additional funding may become available, new individuals may enter the purchase-of-service funding system, existing resources may be reassigned, service needs of individuals included under this procurement may change, or service delivery costs and established rates may change. Service Summary Forms, other engagement systems and Master Agreement contracts that result from this RFR may be amended to accommodate any of these needs, subject to the service delivery goals expressed in this RFR and available resources.

F. CONTRACT MANAGEMENT

Please note that discussion of “contract” below is a general term referring to the service level supported by a Service Summary Form. The official legal document is the Standard Contract Form signed by bidders awarded services under this RFR for inclusion on the Master Agreement. Until a Master Agreement contract is signed, a SSF cannot be executed. The SSF will note the allocated expenditure level based on projected number of staff hours to be purchased at an agreed-upon level and rate rather than an amount supported by a maximum obligation.

1. Rate Methodology

Rates for services in this class will be found in 101 CMR 424.00. Nine FTE positon have been identified as possible members of a Clinical Team. DDS will collaborate with qualified providers to determine the appropriate make up of the Clinical Team based on needs of individuals in the region, and will negotiate annual service units and hourly rates to be purchased. This calculation will be used to determine either a daily or monthly accommodation rate. DDS will remain the “payer of last resort.” Qualified providers will be expected to demonstrate cost offsets and how they plan to maximize third party billing to offset the daily or monthly accommodation rate.

Rates will support all personnel costs to include benefits, occupancy, training, supervision and all administrative support that contributed to the overall cost of a Clinical Team member. During the life of this procurement, rates and service levels outlined in 101 CMR 424.00 may change. Any updates to rates or service levels stated in regulation will be incorporated into this procurement as well as contracts and Service Summary Forms with appropriate notice to providers.

2. Contracting (Service Summary Form) aspects

Payments for services in this class will be made based on the membership of the Clinical Team and number of units to be purchased a month. Billing processes will be standardized to the extent possible. Total expenditure amounts for Clinical Team will be based on the projected utilization of service to the numbers of individuals receiving the service each month. Providers will only be reimbursed for services provided up to this amount. Should the actual amount of service provided exceed the estimated amount, it will be the responsibility of the provider organization to notify the locally designated contact for the contract no later than April 15th of each year.

During the life of the procurement, the Department may change the SSF contracting process described above to other methods supported by the rate regulation. In addition, supplemental schedules to the annual Uniform Financial Report submission or other reports may be required for submission periodically in order to acquire key information regarding the level of utilization and the actual constituent costs associated with various Clinical Team services.

G. ANTICIPATED DURATION OF CONTRACT:

Total Anticipated Contract Duration: 11 months Estimated Contract Start Date:7/1/2026 Contract End Date: 6/30/2027

Service Summary Forms can be in effect for the entire duration of the contract, but may be issued for shorter periods of time and renewed on a periodic basis.

At any time during the duration of the contract, the Department may conduct reviews of services and may consider taking corrective action, up to and including cessation or termination of all or part of the services covered under the Service Summary Form. Reasons for taking corrective action include: the provider has not satisfactorily achieved performance goals; the needs of the consumers change to the extent that they can no longer be appropriately served under the original terms of this procurement; or other issues or circumstances arise that support the conclusion that a significant change in services is in the best interests of the individuals served or the Department. Generally, unless a termination notice has been given pursuant to the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Human and Social Services, the Master Agreement contracts will remain in force for the duration of the procurement. In addition, the Department reserves the right to remove a provider from a qualified list and terminate the Master Agreement contract where health and safety, debarment, or significant performance or public accountability concerns indicate that the provider’s continued participation is not in the Commonwealth’s best interest.

H. ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES, FUNDING OR COMPENSATION FOR EXPECTED DURATION

Estimated Value of Procurement (Includes original RFR issued in 2017): $40 million

I. WILL FEDERAL FUNDS BE USED TO FUND CONTRACT(S)?

|X| NO

The Department reserves the right to use Federal Funds should they become available to them to purchase the types of services being procured through this RFR. Should this happen, the Department will communicate any and all additional requirements to the providers in advance of this change.

J. WILL A BIDDERS CONFERENCE BE OFFERED?

|X| NO |_| YES

K. WILL OPPORTUNITY FOR WRITTEN QUESTIONS BE OFFERED?

|X| NO |_| YES

Telephone calls will NOT be accepted regarding this RFR.

Bidders are prohibited from communicating directly with any employee of the Department except as specified in this RFR.

L. RFR FORMS AND REQUIRED SUBMISSIONS

The following forms will be posted on COMMBUYS and are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this RFR and any resulting contract.

1. RFR Cover Page

2. Response Document

3. Organizational Chart for Contracting Entity

4. SDP (Supplier Diversity Program) Plan Form for Purchase of Service

The above noted forms may change or be revised during the life of this procurement. Updated forms will be posted on COMMBUYS.

Additional Documentation Requirements for New Providers

Providers who have not done business with EOHHS agencies will be asked to submit the following forms if qualified for the service.

· Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Health and Human Services

· Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (W-9)

· Authorization for Electronic Funds Payment

Existing providers of services to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts may include a statement indicating that current documents are already on file with the Comptroller’s Office and should include a notation of their Vendor Customer code on the Cover Sheet so that this information can be easily referenced.

EOHHS Qualification Process Providers who have not been actively qualified by an EOHHS agency based on their submission of financial and organizational information should take steps to begin the EOHHS POS Qualification Process prior to seeking qualification under this RFR. Up-to-date forms and instructions regarding the EOHHS POS Qualification Process are available by clicking on the following link:

http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/provider/

When accessing this website, please refer to “Contracting with Health and Human Services” and the related materials. This website will provide basic information regarding the process of contracting with EOHHS agencies such as DDS, and it also contains a full discussion of the documentation requirements necessary for qualification purposes, as well as blank forms for your use.

M. RESPONSE SUBMISSION

Electronic documents are to be submitted through COMMBUYS. Responses will be reviewed beginning on June 17, 2026, and continue through the close of the RFR on July 14, 2026. Provider submissions, if deemed responsive and qualified, will be added to the CT-18 master contract as reviews are completed.

Please note, the reopened RFR will close on July 14, 2026, and no additional responses will be accepted.

N. RESPONSE FORMAT

Response Documents must be in the following format:

· 12-point Times New Roman font

· 8 ½ X 11 inch paper

· One-inch margins

· Single-spaced

The Bidder is responsible for any and all costs associated with the preparation of the RFR Response. All response submissions, regardless of whether a contract is ultimately awarded to a particular Bidder, become the property of DDS. The Departments are under no obligation to return any Responses or materials submitted by a Bidder in response to this RFR. All materials submitted by Bidders become the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and will not be returned to the Bidder. The Commonwealth reserves the right to use any ideas, concepts, or configurations that are presented in a Bidder’s Response, whether or not the Response is selected for a Contract award.

All responses must be submitted electronically using the online submission tools available to Vendors registered in COMMBUYS. To Register go to www.COMMBUYS.com and click on the “Register” link on the front page. There is no charge to register in COMMBUYS.

To be considered for qualification, the original proposal must be received by the Department of Developmental Services by the specified date, month, year and time of the Bid Opening Date displayed on COMMBUYS. Times are Eastern Standard/Daylight Savings (US), as applicable.

Providers are advised to allow adequate time for submission through COMMBUYS of proposal as required by the Operational Services Division, by considering potential online submission impediments like Internet traffic, Internet connection speed, file size, and file volume. The Department is not responsible for delays encountered by providers. Bids submitted via COMMBUYS are time stamped by the COMMBUYS system clock which is considered the official time of record.

Proposals submitted via COMMBUYS must be signed electronically by the Bidder by accepting the terms and conditions of the bid on the “Terms & Conditions” tab in COMMBUYS. Bidders do this by selecting “Save & Continue” on the “Terms and Conditions” tab after accepting the terms and conditions of the bid. By agreeing to this the submitter attests that s/he is an agent of the Bidder with authority to sign on the Bidder’s behalf, and that s/he has read and assented to each document’s terms.

Page Limits and Attachments: The bidder must adhere to page limits where specified. Attachments and other supporting documentation specifically asked for by this RFR are not counted in calculating if the bidder’s response exceeds the page limits. However, attachments must be limited to those specifically asked for by this RFR. Any attachment that is submitted that is not required will be removed from the response and will not be reviewed.

All pages in excess of the stated limits will be removed from the bidder’s response prior to the response being forwarded to the Procurement Review Committee. They will not be reviewed or considered in making any recommendation relative to this RFR. All excess pages will be removed from the end of the relevant section/question. Each question has its own limits which are included in the submission templates. Required forms are not included in the page limits.

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Employees of awarded Bidders are also subject to regulations requiring Criminal Offender Record Information (“CORI”) checks in accordance with Executive Office of Health and Human Services (“EOHHS”) regulations at 101 CMR 15.00. A Massachusetts CORI check is required for any person employed by EOHHS or an EOHHS-agency or their vendor programs whose position entails the potential for unsupervised contact with individuals receiving services from the Department. Additional guidance, forms, and information for organizations subject to the CORI regulations at 101 CMR 15.00, including guidance on how to properly process EOHHS mandated CORI checks, is available at: https://www.mass.gov/lists/guidance-and-information-for-organizations-subject-to-the-cori-regulations-at-101-cmr-1500. A copy of the EOHHS CORI regulations at 101 CMR 15.00 may be accessed at: https://www.mass.gov/doc/criminal-offender-record-checks-effective-april-21-2017/download.

National Criminal Background Check Employees of awarded Bidders are subject to national criminal fingerprint-based background checks in accordance with M.G.L. c. 123B, c.19B, §§ 19-20 and 115 CMR 12.00: National Criminal Background Checks. Fingerprint-based checks are to be conducted on applicants seeking licensure from the Department for residential or day services, or for other employees of provider agencies licensed, funded, or approved by the Department who have the potential for unsupervised contact with persons with intellectual or developmental disability. Any associated costs are the responsibility of the awarded Bidder(s). Additional information is available by contacting the DDS National Criminal Background Check Unit at DDS.NationalBackgroundUnit@Mass.gov.

Privacy and Security In performance of its duties under the Contract, awarded Bidders shall comply with all obligations set forth in Attachment C, and awarded Bidders must comply with M.G.L. c. 66A, M.G.L. c. 93H, M.G.L. c. 123B, §17, 801 CMR 3.00, 201 CMR 17, 115 CMR 4.05,4.06, and 9.19, and the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules (45 CFR Part 160 and Part 164, Subparts A and E), 42 CFR 431, Subpart F, 42 CFR Part 2, and any other applicable federal or state law or regulation pertaining to the use, disclosure, maintenance, privacy, confidentiality or security of Protected Information (“PI”), which shall be defined as any “personal data” as defined in M.G.L. c. 66A, any “personal information” as defined in M.GL. c. 93H, and any other individually identifiable information that is treated as confidential under State or Federal Law (including, but not limited to, any state and federal tax return information) that the awarded Bidder uses, maintains, discloses, receives, creates, transmits or otherwise obtains in connection with its performance of its duties. Any PI created or maintained by the awarded Bidder pursuant to the Contract, shall only be used for the purposes stated in the Contract. As of the Contract effective date, the awarded Bidder shall implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards that reasonably and appropriately protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PI and that prevent use or disclosure of such PI other than as provided for the Contract.

Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Program Background: Pursuant to Executive Order 565, the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) promotes business-to-business relationships between awarded Bidders, including health and human service providers, and diverse businesses and non-profit organizations (“SDP Partners”) certified or recognized by the Supplier Diversity Office (SDO). The SDP Policy for POS, bidders can be found at: SDP Policy for POS (mass.gov)

Financial Spending and Reporting Requirements. All Bidders responding to this solicitation are required to make a significant annual financial commitment (“SDP Commitment”) to partnering with one or more SDO-certified or recognized diverse business enterprise(s) or non-profit organization(s). Bidders that are issued a contract from this procurement (Bid) will be required to submit an annual “Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) Plan Form for Purchase of Service (POS)” with their Uniform Financial Report (UFR) through the Operational Services Division’s (OSD) eFiling site.

Awarded Bidders that file a UFR exemption request are to submit the SDP Plan Form for POS with their exemption request. The plan will be evaluated yearly by the Commonwealth Department with the most Purchase of Service funding to a provider during the previous fiscal year. This Department commonly is referred to as the Principal Purchasing Agency (PPA).

No contract shall be awarded to a Bidder without an SDP Commitment that meets the requirements stated herein and above. This requirement extends to all Bidders regardless of their own supplier diversity certification.

Meaningful Evaluation Submitted SDP Plans must be evaluated in a meaningful way, which considers the value of the SDP commitment made by the bidder. If a competitive BID, the SDP plan evaluation must account for a minimum of 25% of the total evaluation score.

SDP Commitment Goal for POS Providers It is desirable that Bidders aim to direct at least 1% of their Commonwealth contract revenue toward spending with SDP Partners. The Bidder’s percentage of spending with SDP Partner(s) for the prior fiscal year can be seen as “PERCENT (%) OF POS SPEND” on the completed “SDP Plan Form for POS” for that fiscal year.

SDP Plan Form Submission Requirements for this RFR Bidders responding to this RFR are required to submit a copy of the “SDP Plan Form for POS” most recently filed via the OSD’s UFR eFiling website. If the content of the “SDP Plan Form for POS” being submitted with the response to this RFR deviates from the form filed via the UFR eFiling website or if the form was not filed, the Bidder is additionally required to submit the “SDP Plan Form for POS” via the UFR as a “Refile UFR/Piecemeal UFR Filing.”

Bidders that do not currently hold POS contracts with Commonwealth Departments must complete the Form and include it with their proposal. The “SDP Plan Form for POS” may be found at the COMMBUYS Bid Solicitation; File Attachments Section. For the SDP Policy for POS, Bidders should refer to this link: SDP Policy for POS (mass.gov)

Eligible SDP Partner Certification Categories and Directories SDP Partners must be business enterprises and/or non-profit organizations certified or recognized by the SDO in one or more of the following certification categories:

· Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)

· Minority Non-Profit Organization (M/NPO)

· Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)

· Women Non-Profit Organization (W/NPO)

· Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VBE)

· Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (SDVOBE)

· Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE)

· Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprise (LBGTBE)

Only spending with SDP Partners that appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs VetBiz Vendor Information Pages directory shall be counted toward a awarded Bidder’s compliance with their SDP Commitment. Spending with SDP Partners that do not appear in the directories above shall not be counted towards meeting an awarded Bidder’s SDP Commitment.

It is always the responsibility of the awarded Bidder to ensure they meet their SDP Commitment, and the SDO, and the issuing Department, assume no responsibility for any awarded Bidder’s failure to meet its SDP Commitment.

Eligible Types of Business-to-Business Relationships Bidders may engage SDP Partners as follows:

· Subcontracting, defined as a partnership in which the SDP partner is involved in the provision of products and/or services to the Commonwealth.

· Ancillary Products and Services, defined as a business relationship in which the SDP partner provides products or services that are not directly related to the awarded Bidder’s contract with the Commonwealth but may be related to the awarded Bidder’s own operational needs.

Other types of business-to-business relationships are not acceptable under this contract. All provisions of this RFR applicable to subcontracting shall apply equally to the engagement of SDP Partners as subcontractors.

Program Flexibility The SDP encompasses the following provisions to support Bidders in establishing and maintaining sustainable business-to-business relationships meeting their needs:

· SDP Partners are not required to be subcontractors

· SDP Partners are not required to be Massachusetts-based businesses

· SDP Partners may be changed or added during the term of the contract, provided the Bidder continues to meet its SDP Commitment

Bidders may propose SDP Partners that are:

· Certified or recognized by the SDO: Such partners appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs VetBiz Vendor Information Pages directory. After contract award (if any), spending with such partners will contribute to meeting the award Bidder’s SDP Commitment.

· Not yet certified or recognized by the SDO: Such partners must be certified in eligible categories by a third-party certification body, such as another city or state supplier diversity certification office, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the Women Business Enterprise National Council, Disability: IN, or the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), but are not listed in the above-mentioned directories. Self-certification is not acceptable. While Bidders may list such proposed SDP Partners on their SDP Plans, spending with such partners will not contribute to meeting the awarded Bidder’s SDP Commitment unless they apply for and are granted SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition. If proposed SDP Partners do not receive SDO supplier diversity certification or recognition, the awarded Bidder must find alternative SDP Partners to meet the SDP Commitment.

It is the responsibility of the awarded Bidder to ensure that their proposed SDP Partners obtain such certification or recognition by the SDO after contract award (if any). The issuing department and the SDO will not conduct outreach to proposed SDP Partners to ensure their certification. Furthermore, no guarantee may be made that a proposed SDP Partner will be certified, or regarding the time it may take to process a proposed SDP Partner certification. Awarded Bidders may direct partners to the SDO’s homepage, www.mass.gov/sdo and the Certification Self-Assessment Tool for guidance on applying for certification.

SDP Spending Reports and Compliance. After contract award, the awarded Bidder shall be required to provide reports demonstrating compliance with the agreed-upon SDP Commitment as directed by the department, which in no case shall be less than annually.

Only spending with SDP Partners that appear in the SDO Directory of Certified Businesses or in the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs VetBiz Vendor Information Pages directory shall be counted toward an awarded Bidder’s compliance with their SDP Commitment. Spending with SDP Partners that do not appear in the directories above shall not be counted toward meeting an awarded Bidder’s SDP Commitment.

SDP Spending Verification. The SDO and the contracting department reserve the right to contact SDP Partners at any time to request that they attest to the amounts reported to have been paid to them by the awarded Bidder.

Program Resources and Assistance Bidders seeking assistance in the development of their SDP Plans or identification of potential SDP Partners may visit the SDP webpage, www.mass.gov/sdp, or contact the SDP Help Desk at sdp@mass.gov.

Q. PROCUREMENT TIME TABLE

Response Opening Date/Due Date Proposals Submissions will not be accepted after this date July 14, 2026

This Request for Response is developed in good faith based on needs known at the time of document preparation. Should additional information become available during the term of this contract suggesting the advisability of a different strategy and/or additional contract goals or performance benchmarks, the Department reserves the right to modify the contract accordingly, including adjusting the contract term, dates of performance, and/or rate structure.

II. OVERVIEW OF SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS

The focus of Clinical Team is on strengthening the support systems for individuals and families and the prevention of acute episodes which may result in an out of home placement. All service components must be locally available, and meet the cultural, linguistic and ethnic needs of people served. Clinical Team is composed of a team of resources with expertise in behavior analysis, behavior therapy, dual diagnosis (mental health and intellectual disabilities) and other relevant clinical interventions. The Clinical team provides consultation, education, evaluation, crisis plan development, interventions, behavioral treatment, counseling and/or direct support to individuals and their families, Area and Regional staff and residential, day and family support agencies. The Clinical Team in consultation with the DDS regional office provides periodic trainings to Area Office staff and when appropriate individuals and families. The clinical team is the focal point in emergency situations and is responsible to help stabilize or place an individual in a stable situation. On-call availability is required.

The ISP remains the cornerstone of the process by which service delivery decisions are made. Applicants must ensure that the specific proposals that they present are fully in accord with and able to respond to the needs and objectives of existing support plans for each individual served. This requirement should not inhibit creativity and innovation in the design of service delivery

Through Clinical Team, the Department may choose any of the following. This list is not inclusive and maybe amended during the life of this procurement

· Access to specialized psychiatric assessment and treatment, including psychiatric involvement in the development, monitoring and evaluation of psychotropic medication treatment plans, consistent with the requirements of DDS regulations and applicable Department protocol;

· Specialized outpatient interventions including but not limited to counseling, psychoeducational/behavior programming etc., that meld habilitative and clinical approaches to the mental health needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities, including outpatient treatment modalities modified to respond to the unique cognitive and affective capabilities of individuals with intellectual disabilities;

· Specialized clinical assessments, including but not limited to diagnostic evaluations, risk assessments, legal competency evaluations, sexuality assessments, and other specialized assessments as requested;

· Responsiveness to management of acute psychiatric crises, including assessment and evaluation of need for hospitalization, referral to and assistance in accessing inpatient and respite/diversionary beds, identification of alternate way of stabilizing individuals in conjunction with other service providers, families and other natural support systems;

· Ability to provide program-centered and client-centered consultation and training to a variety of service providers, families and natural support systems.

A. KEY PRINCIPLES AND VALUES:

This procurement is substantially based on the unique needs and preferences of the individuals being supported as guided by the Mission Statement, which is posted on COMMBUYS and the related policies of DDS.

1. Clinical Team Overview DDS is dedicated to creating, in partnership with others, innovative and genuine opportunities for meaningful community participation for people who have physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities, autism, or have multiple disabilities in order to participate fully and meaningfully in and contribute to their communities as valued members.

Programs must be able to meet the often complex and specialized needs of individuals who exhibit other conditions in addition to their primary disability, such as a history of substance abuse and/or psychiatric/behavioral disorder. Some individuals have additional factors that complicate their ability to function in the community, which may be medical, legal, social or emotional/psychiatric in nature. Clinical Team services should be flexible in nature in order to accommodate the varying and sometimes changing support needs of the individuals served. Individuals who are served by Clinical Team members enter into programs from a variety of settings including skilled nursing facilities, institutional programs, and educational programs, as well as the homes of their family of origin or similar support systems.

B. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE SERVED

All individuals served will be referred by DDS Area Offices. Priority populations to be served include the following:

a. Individuals in acute crisis or distress (e.g., with diagnoses of borderline personality disorder, depression, generalized anxiety disorder) experiencing some life or situational distress;

b. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder with disorders of impulse control who sporadically commit violent, aggressive acts, or who have substance abuse difficulties, and poor impulse control while under the influence of substances;

c. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder with profound social inhibitions or interpersonal interactive deficits, which results in severe social isolation and loneliness;

d. Individuals with both intellectual disabilities and other serious or chronic mental illness;

e. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder who are in need of a comprehensive clinical assessment and/or risk assessment;

f. Individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder who are in need of a clinical team report to assess the need for guardianship;

g. Priority clients of the Department, including, but not limited to, various class members, who have an identified need for outpatient services beyond those deemed medically necessary by third-party payers.

h. Individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) living in a community setting who are experiencing some life or situational distress. ABI is defined as all forms of brain injuries that occur after attaining the age of 22, including, without limitation, brain injuries caused by external force, which are often referred to as “traumatic injuries” (TBI). ABI does not include Alzheimer’s disease and similar neuro-degenerative diseases whose primary manifestation is dementia.

i. Individuals on the MFP (Moving Forward Program) Waiver who reside in a variety of residential settings in the community.

Services must be provided in such a way as to meet specific cultural and linguistic preferences of population.

III. OVERVIEW OF CLINICAL TEAM MEMBERSHIP

Clinical Teams are composed of up to nine unique staff positions. The Region/Area Office will determine the composition of their Clinical Team/s based on presenting needs of individuals. There are currently four levels for each position outlined in regulations. Over time, these levels may change and additional levels may be created. Higher levels are reserved for staff with more years of experience, or staff that have higher degree or meet higher licensing requirements. Other factors that can impact levels are cultural and linguistic capabilities and geographic consideration. Following is a brief description of each position:

Clinical Team Program Manager: Individual who has overall responsibility for the management, oversight and daily operations of Clinical Team Program

Clinical Team Psychiatrist: A M.D. who is registered and licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine and professional conduct is monitored by the American Psychiatric Association, as well as by the state Board of Medicine.

Clinical Team Nurse Specialist: An individual who possesses a Master’s degree in Nursing and is currently registered by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing as a registered nurse and is practicing in an expanded role. This level is appropriate for individuals who have earned a master's degree from an accredited graduate school of psychiatric nursing and is authorized by the Board of Registration to practice in an expanded role and who meets the requirements of 244 CMR 4.05(4): Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Clinical Team Nurse Generalist: An individual who is licensed as 1) a registered nurse and does not possess a Master’s Degree or 2) a licensed practical nurse by Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.

Clinical Team Psychology Practitioner:

a) A psychologist who is licensed to practice by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists.

b) A graduate of a Masters or Doctoral level Psychology Program.

c) A behavioral analyst, board certified by BACB; The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), a private non-profit organization based in Littleton, Colorado.

d) An applied behavior analyst, licensed by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Service Professionals.

Clinical Team Social Worker/Clinician/Supervising Professional: An individual who has an undergraduate or graduate degree in social work or a related field and is trained in psychotherapy, psychology, social work, or clinical techniques. Higher level professionals have master's degrees and additional supervisory experience. Social workers licensed by the Board of Registration of Social Workers include: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW; Licensed Certified Social Worker, LCSW; Licensed Social Worker, and LSW; Licensed Social Work Associate, LSWA.

Clinical Team Direct Care Staff III: Individual other than those defined above who hold a Bachelor’s or higher level degree, credentials or licensure, or have relevant experience or specialized skills who are responsible for the general daily care of individuals in the program or for program service delivery. Category may also be used to reflect bilingual or other specialized staff necessary to serve the intellectual developmental needs of clients.

Clinical Team Case Worker/Manager: An individual who provides casework/case management services including service eligibility, service plan development, service development, etc. Higher levels include individual who possess a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related discipline.

Clinical Team Clerical: An individual who carries out direct program clerical duties such as program or client record keeping, billing, etc.

IV. CURRENT AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR SERVICE DELIVERY

It is important that the delivery of Clinical Team Services is integrated and aligned with other ongoing and future DDS Policy and Programmatic Initiatives that are described below.

· Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) Positive Behavior Supports is a long-term DDS initiative to bring contemporary practice and thinking to an understanding of the function of behavior with the long-term goal of supporting individuals in optimal environments. The Department’s focus on Positive Behavior Supports is both a move toward a more holistic way of understanding individuals and their environments and a move away from a focus on behavior management. The PBS initiative will replace the current Level system embedded in DDS Regulations (with the exception of court-approved Level III plans). Positive Behavior Supports represents an organization-wide approach to creating living and learning environments for all people supported by DDS. PBS is based on the science of human behavior. It is widely used in both DD systems and in school districts nationwide.

VI. PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

Provide leadership to service coordinators and members of support teams on the development, monitoring and evaluation of treatment plans. For each performance standard listed below the first section describes standards that all providers will follow. The Department may require additional performance objectives or may modify the standards and criteria appearing below over the course of this procurement. In general, these performance objectives will be developed as part of a collaborative process between the provider agency and the expectations of the DDS Area Office.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FRAMEWORK

1. Expectation of Funding Agency Providers are expected to work collaboratively with Agency as evidenced by the provider’s:

a) Professional conduct, communication (written and verbal) with, and responsiveness to, the administrative, clinical, and case management/coordination staff.

b) Attendance at, preparation for, and active participation in monthly/quarterly service plan and other meetings convened by Agency staff, as requested.

c) Timeliness, completeness, and quality of all required written documentation including, but not limited to, assessment, incident, and progress reports, as well as Service Plans and monthly reports

d) Provision of services in accordance with Agency approved Service Plans.

2. Monitoring and Supervision

a) Maintain adequate numbers of qualified staff to provide mental health, psychiatric, behavioral consultation, training and direct services.

b) Maintain and enhance each clinical team staff member’s expertise relevant to their discipline in order to acquire skills relevant to current practices

c) Establish linkages/affiliations within the provider agency to ensure access to the full range of provider agency services.

d) Maximize integration of specialized services with other generic services within the provider agency and its affiliates and subsidiaries.

e) Provide leadership to service coordinators and members of support teams on the development, monitoring and evaluation of treatment plans

f) Ensure appropriate back up capacity in the event of staff absence, need to increase hours, etc.

3. Service Planning Process Participate in the service planning process as appropriate to the service level being provided.

If required by the Central West Area Office, provider would participate in the ISP process consistent with DDS requirements as defined in 115 CMR 6:20 – 6.25 or subsequent revisions to regulation including but not limited to:

· Observance of principles governing the ISP process including collaboration with all members of the ISP team.

· Submission of ISP Assessments, Goals, Objectives, and ISP Progress Summaries in DDS established formats, within required timeframes, and consistent with DDS quality standards

· Development and implementation of provider Support Agreements consistent with the ISP.

· Evaluating and, where necessary, recommending modification of the strategies employed to address ISP goals and objectives included in the ISP to support the individual to achieve success.

4. Fiscal Management

a) Provider maintains efficient budget management, and submits monthly billing within 30 days of the end of each month.

b) Provider is able to demonstrate that the consumer services provided are accurately documented for billing and auditing purposes.

c) Provider is responsive to all requests from the Department for financial, qualification, and licensure information.

VII. SUBMISSION, EVALUATION, QUALIFICATION AND PROVIDER SELECTION

A. PROCUREMENT SUBMISSION AND PROCESS

Each provider seeking to be awarded a contract under this procurement should directly and clearly address each of the response areas that appear below in the Required Questions-All Bidders, in addition to completing and submitting other required documents that are outlined above in section L, RFR Required Forms and Submissions, as applicable. Each proposal will be scored by a team in keeping with the values and guidance contained in the Rating Scale provided below.

B. REQUIRED QUESTIONS-ALL BIDDERS

Providers wishing to qualify under this RFR must answer all of the questions appearing below. A template for the submission of responses is contained in this RFR in COMMBUYS. Responses to all questions will be scored in keeping with the Rating Scale outlined under Evaluation Responses. Attachments or appendices not requested and any program descriptions beyond the page limit will not be reviewed.

Question 1: Experience (Maximum one page) Describe your history and experience in providing services to priority populations outlined in this RFR. Be specific as possible. What type of program evaluation and relevant documents do you maintain that demonstrates the success of this service?

Question 2: Services and Program Design (Maximum one page) What Emergency Response services will you provide and how will you provide those services to individuals with intellectual disabilities. Include a description of the overall program design and detailed description of the activities your staff will provide to meet the needs of individuals

Question 3: Assessment and Intervention (Maximum two pages) Describe in detail process you would use in assessing a psychiatric crisis and range of intervention short of hospitalization you might utilize to prevent such hospitalization. How would you work with other resources available in the community? How would you work with emergency out of home respite providers to quickly and efficiently access a respite admission for individuals who are unable to return home?

Question 4: Hospitalization and Discharge (Maximum one page) How would you work with DDS, hospital and other provider staff to ensure the shortest possible stay in a hospital should an inpatient treatment be needed. What role you would play in discharge planning?

Question 5: Crisis Planning (Maximum two pages) How would you develop crisis plans for people referred by Area staff? Provide detailed description of each of the activities that you staff will perform to meet the needs of individuals as well as a description of the overall design for crisis plan development including completing assessment in specialty areas such as legal competency, sexual offences and other risk behaviors. Describe how you would collaborate with all parties as well as obtain and use information from all sources such as individual, family, DDS, hospital, provider staff, etc.

Question 6: Guardianship (Maximum two pages) Describe your approach to developing a Clinical Team Report to assess the need for guardianship. Describe the activities of each staff member involved in the assessment and the criteria used to determine an individual’s ability relating to physical health, safety, and self-care. Describe your agency’s tolerance for risk behaviors when making determinations of risk of harm and decision making ability. Describe how you approach recommendations for limited guardianship.

Question 7: Training and Supervision (Maximum two pages) Describe how your agency currently or in the future will provide training and supervision to staff working with individuals in the community. Describe how you assess the quality of staff work providing the desired services to individuals at various locations in the community. How do new staff and back up staff get trained on working with specific individuals? How do you ensure that the coordinator/manager of the Team is providing ongoing oversight and monitoring of staff?

EVALUATION PROCESS: Procurement Management Team members will rate the questions based on the materials submitted by provider organizations. No proposal can be accepted as “qualified” without meeting the standards for every required response item. That is, in order to be qualified, a provider must receive a score of 1 point for each required question. Providers will not be contacted for additional or revised responses if a response is insufficient.