DCF S&S25 RFR Bidders Conf Slide Deck from June 3 2024.pdf

Welcome DCF Support & Stabilization (S&S) RFR

Bidders’ Conference June 3, 2024

REVISED Procurement Calendar

• Bidders’ Conference: June 3, 2024

• Written Inquiries Due Date: June 7, 2024 at 2:00PM (updated)

• Responses to Written Inquiries Posted: June 28, 2024 (updated)

• Response(s) Due: RFR will be amended. The new date to occur approximately four weeks AFTER the new EOHHS public hearing date for 101

CMR 451.00

See on COMMBUYS: Update on Cancelled Public Hearing

Written Inquiries

• Today’s PowerPoint Deck: Responses to written inquiries submitted prior to 2:00PM on May 31, 2024

• Written Inquiries Due Date: June 7, 2024 at 2:00PM (updated)

• Responses to Written Inquiries Posted: June 28, 2024 (updated)

Submit written inquiries to ServicesNetwork@mass.gov

Goal of Support & Stabilization (S&S) Services

“Children have the greatest chance for safety, permanency, and well-being when the children, their parents, and other caregivers have access to services that are tailored to match their individualized strengths and needs.” p. 6

S&S Service Array is One of Many

• Children and families served by DCF receive and benefit from services delivered by multiple state agencies and from private, community-based organizations.

• DCF itself operates multiple service arrays in addition to S&S.

• S&S service array is intended to complement, amplify, and serve as a “bridge” to other services.

Agenda for Review of RFR Key Points and Q&A

• Intentional Features

• New S&S Service Categories and Service Models

• Competitive vs. Non-Competitive Procurement

• Responding to the RFR

• Written Inquiries & Responses

• Staffing

• Emergency Referrals

• Virtual Service Delivery

• Rates, Units, Billable Hrs, Start Up

• Additional Questions re Service Categories and Models

• BRC

• Service Referrals

• Eligibility

• Review Process

• Other

• Wrap up

Intentional Features of S&S Services

Intentional Features of S&S Services

Exclusively for children or families with a DCF open case.

Cultural Humility and Linguistic Competency, Intentional Strategies for Engaging and Retaining Children and Families, Trauma-Informed Service Delivery, Flexibility Regarding Type of Cases Served, Collaboration When Multiple Providers Involved, and Continuous Quality Improvement and Evaluation

Cultural Humility and Linguistic Competency, p.7

• Need to overcome challenges in connecting with available services due to past experiences with racism, discrimination, language barriers, cultural values about obtaining assistance, fear of government agencies, or a combination of these factors.

• Provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities.

• Use of preferred language for verbal and written communication.

• Design of written materials for low literacy skills.

Intentional Strategies for Engaging and Retaining Children and Families, p. 8

• Consider what “easy to access” means for a child or family with an open DCF case.

• Facing multiple stressors

• Social isolation

• “…affirmative, active, persistent, and timely efforts that exceed what may be considered usual practices for working with consumers.”

• Request from families for services delivered by peers.

• Desirable for S&S services; Required for “Peer Support” services

Question about Intentional Strategies for Engagement & Retention

Questions about Intentional Strategies for Engagement & Retention

Can you explain the last intentional strategy mentioned on page 8 of the RFR: "Policies and practices built on an unwavering commitment to outreach and retention"? I'm not sure what this means and would also appreciate some examples.

This statement sets the expectation for providers to work at overcoming barriers to engagement and retention of consumers in services.

Examples:

• Mentoring staff to accept engagement as part of the practice and service delivery.

• Connecting with consumers via phone in between regularly scheduled visits/sessions for brief check-ins and reminders of upcoming appointments/visits/sessions.

• Applying CQI to rates of consumer engagement and retention.

Trauma-Informed Service Delivery, pp. 11

• Attuned to variety of possible sources of trauma

• Direct and inter-generational

• Effect on engagement and retention

• Multi-pronged approach to trauma-informed service delivery

Flexibility Regarding Type of Cases Served, p.12

S&S services are primarily to support intact families with keeping their children safe and stable, without the need for out-of-home placement.

(stable at home = permanency)

Flexibility to provide services at other points in the life of a DCF case.

Collaboration when Multiple Providers Involved, p.

Families with multiple needs may require multiple services, either simultaneously or in sequence

To avoid overwhelming families when more than one service working with a family:

Center the needs of the children and needs of their caregivers

Focus on shared goal of child safety, permanency, well-being

Prioritize child welfare issues (e.g., effective parenting, family functioning, parent-child attachment, social/emotional development, social connections, concrete resources) through use of Five Protective Factors clinical framework

Questions about Collaboration when Multiple Providers Involved

Questions about Collaboration

What delineates the role of the provider and the role of the social worker in assessing issues in the home environment?

· For example, on page 19, providers are expected to report on factors in the home environment related to general safety and risk. Providers are asked to use the Five Protective Factors tool. These would seem to be tasks under the scope of the social worker, not the provider.

Providers’ roles are to observe and share information relevant to child safety and risk. DCF social workers are also responsible for observing factors relevant to safety and risks, but social workers responsibilities go beyond observation and include assessment using structured tools. These assessments are more reliable when they are informed by information gathered from multiple sources and on multiple occasions. The provider role has opportunity for more frequent contact with consumers. When providers contribute relevant information, it can lead to better understanding of safety and risk and more informed decision making in case practice and progress.

Providers are asked to use “a” tool to assess protective capacity using the Five Protective Factors framework. Relying on the same framework is intended to promote improved communication and collaboration. Using different tools that are aligned by the same overarching framework can provide a more comprehensive view and different insights about caregiving capacity, which is dynamic. Understanding and enhancing caregiver capacity is a fundamental strategy for achieving child safety, permanency, and well-being.

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), p. 13

Feedback loops to create improvements in targeted accomplishments

Focus on both delivery of service and impact of service

Conduct internal CQI

Collaborate with DCF on evaluation initiatives

Question about CQI

Questions about CQI

What is the definition of CQI? Is there a minimum FTE expectation for a position devoted to CQI?

CQI stands for Continuous Quality Improvement. CQI uses information to create feedback loops about targeted accomplishments so that the information can be used to create improvements.

See page 14 of the RFR for links to resources about using CQI in child welfare.

CQI is applicable for improving both processes of service delivery (e.g., engagement and retention) and outcomes for consumers (e.g., increased use of positive parenting techniques).

The expectation is for providers to implement a CQI process. The number of FTEs required for CQI work is not prescribed.

Questions about CQI

What is considered a “high rate” when looking at CQI for rates of accepting referrals and rates of consumer retention? (Referencing Page 15 of RFR)

Without baseline data of referral acceptance and retention rates, it is not possible to define which values are “high,” “average,” or “low.”

New S&S Service Categories and Models

Categories of S&S Services

Safe and Stable Comprehensive Services Substance Use Interventions Therapeutic Family/Child Support Evidence-Based Practices Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention Respite for Child Welfare Preparation Support Youth Support and Stabilization Mediation for Child Welfare Assessment Services Other Services

Questions comparing existing S&S services to new S&S services

Questions about existing vs. new S&S services

Currently, hourly nonclinical and clinical rates recently went up to $68.84 and $103.65. In the new RFR, what are the comparable services? Are comparable services spread out across the 12 different service areas? I'm trying to understand how the rates for the proposed services compare to what we currently provide - Parent Support, Youth Support, Supervised Visitation and Family Stabilization Services.

There is not a 1:1 correspondence between existing S&S services and the service models in the new S&S RFR, which have been updated to reflect changes in practice and changes in consumers’ needs since the previous

RFR.

To make decisions about the service models for which your organization wants to submit bids –

• Review Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the RFR to consider how services that your organization currently offers correspond to the new service models.

• Review rate regulation 101 CMR 451.00.

Note re: “supervised visitation” - The service model is called “Supervised Family Time.”

Our agency has a current contract for DCF S&S services for intimate partner abuse education. Under what category is this program in the new RFR?

It will be your agency’s decision about which service model to bid. A few questions to guide decisions about the service model for which your organization wants to submit a bid –

• Will this service be offered in a group setting? If yes, look at all the Group service models.

• Will the service be delivered by someone who is a survivor of intimate partner violence or grew up in a home witnessing intimate partner violence? If yes, look at all the Peer Specialist service models.

• Will this service be delivered primarily to a parent caring for their child at home? If yes, start by checking out the service models in the Safe and Stable and Comprehensive categories.

• Will this service be delivered primarily to a parent whose child is in out-of-home placement? If yes, check out the service models in Preparation Support category.

• To indicate the population you will be serving - use the Specialization section on the Part B Response Sheet and check off “Victims of intimate partner/domestic violence and their children.”

I am hoping you can answer this question and I apologize for my ignorance. This is my first time being involved in the COMMBUYS procurement process. I'm looking at the service list and none of them match the exact wording of our contract. Can you please tell me what service on the procurement list below matches with our contract: Program Type: XXXXX/S&S/Support & Stabilization?

The wording and content for existing S&S services will not match the wording and content for new S&S services.

1. Can you provide a crosswalk of existing to new service models?

2. What is the best way to map current programs into this new RFR?

There is not a crosswalk. The best way to map current programs into the new RFR is to rely on Sections 2.1 and

2.2 of the RFR. The next slide provides a table to assist with thinking about new models. The table is to stimulate thinking and should not limit the service categories that a provider is considering.

Consider Service Models in These CategoriesInterest/Expertise Youth SupportYouth Development

Substance Use InterventionSubstance Use Therapeutic Family/Child SupportFamily Therapy

Comprehensive; Family Crisis/Trauma InterventionCrisis Responding RespiteChild Care

Safe & Stable; Comprehensive; Therapeutic Family/Child; Respite; Youth SupportDisabilities Evidence-Based Practices; Other ServicesEvidence-Based Human Services

Safe & Stable; Substance UsePeer Supports Safe & Stable; Preparation SupportPermanency

Youth SupportMentoring All, except Mediation, Respite, Youth Support, AssessmentParenting Skill Development

Comprehensive; Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention; Evidence-Based Practices24/7 Services Preparation Support; Safe & StableReunification

Safe & StableHomemaking Support AssessmentsPsychological Testing

Safe & Stable; Comprehensive; Substance Use; Family Crisis/Trauma InterventionMotivational Interviewing MediationMediation

Safe & Stable; Comprehensive; Therapeutic Family/Child; Youth SupportIntimate Partner/Domestic Violence

Question about DCF Intentions

Why is DCF prioritizing statewide providers? Is DCF strategically prioritizing larger state-wide providers over regional providers, and therefore, attempting to create a smaller provider pool? No.

As stated in Section 2.3 of the RFR, “The Department seeks providers who can assist with creating equity in the availability and accessibility of services for families and children in communities across the state. Providers are encouraged to serve as many Area Offices as feasible to help realize this goal, with an emphasis on serving an entire Region or the entire Commonwealth whenever possible.”

Details on Service Categories and Models

Section 2.1 Service Categories Overview High level description of each service category and service model

Section 2.2 Service Model Descriptions Description of service models within each category Table of details for each service model

Description, Rate Unit, Location, Frequency, Staffing, Protective Factors (if applicable), Frequency of Written Update to DCF, Referral Response

Safe and Stable

Safe & Stable Safe & Stable – Peer Support Specialist Safe & Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support Safe & Stable – Group

When a service model includes “Peer Support,” there is a requirement for staff delivering services to have relevant lived experience. Inclusion of staff with relevant lived experience is encouraged but not required in other service models.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive Services – Family Comprehensive Services – Intensive Family Comprehensive Services – Therapeutic Comprehensive Services – Family Member with a Disability

All require team-based delivery, availability for 24/7 in-person responding.

Questions about Disability

What is the definition of disability? Is Autism considered a disability?

Per DCF’s Disability Policy, which is available online https://www.mass.gov/doc/dcf-disability-policy/download, a disability is “A physical, sensory, or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity or operation of a major bodily function, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded or perceived by others as having such an impairment.”

Yes, autism spectrum disorder is considered a disability.

Please see the DCF Disability Policy for additional questions about interpreting the definition of disability.

Can people with disabilities be served only in service models that specifically include “disability” - like Comprehensive Services for Family Member with a Disability?

No, families that have a member with a disability may be served in any of the service models. Providers are encouraged to select other service models and include consumers with disabilities. The inclusion of service models that include “disability” is to promote a service array that includes specially designed services.

For more information, see the Notice posted to COMMBUYS – Q&A for Experienced ID/DD providers.

Substance Use Interventions

Substance Use Interventions – Parent/Caregiver Substance Use Substance Use Interventions – Peer Support Specialist Substance Use Substance Use Interventions – Youth Substance Use Substance Use Interventions – Parent/Caregiver Substance Use Specialty Group Substance Use Interventions – Youth Substance Use Specialty Group

Intended to complement, amplify, and serve as a “bridge” to other services.

Therapeutic Family/Child Support

Therapeutic – Family Therapeutic – Youth Therapeutic – Parent/Caregiver Specialty Group Therapeutic – Youth Specialty Group

Designed to be delivered by licensed mental/behavioral health professionals.

Focus not only on treating mental/behavioral health challenges but also on addressing improvements in family functioning, caregiver – child attachments, communication, and dealing with family conflicts.

Intended to complement, amplify, and serve as a “bridge” to other services.

Evidence-Based Practices

Evidence-Based – Multisystemic Therapy® (MST®) Evidence-Based – Intercept® Evidence-Based – Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) Evidence-Based – Motivational Interviewing (MI)

“Evidence-Based” as defined by Family First Prevention Services Act and as rated on the federal Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/.

All rated as “well-supported.”

For background, see Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Five-Year Prevention Plan https://www.mass.gov/doc/ma-title-iv-e-prevention-plan/download

• Providers must earn credential/follow training as offered by the EBP model developer:

• MST® - MST Services http://www.mstservices.com/

• Intercept® - Youth Villages

• BSFT® - Brief Strategic Family Therapy® Institute at University of Miami https://www.publichealth.med.miami.edu/research/research-centers/brief-strategic-family-therapy-bsft-institute/index.html or other model developer listed on Title IV-E Clearinghouse

• MI – MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) https://motivationalinterviewing.org/motivational-interviewing-training

• Deliver service per written manual:

• MST® - Henggeler, S. W., Schoenwald, S. K., Borduin, C. M., Rowland, M. D., & Cunningham, P. B. (2009). Multisystemic Therapy for antisocial behavior in children and adolescents (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

• Intercept® - Goldsmith, T. (Ed.). (2007). Youth Villages clinical protocols treatment manual. Youth Villages.

• BSFT® - Szapocznik, J. Hervis, O., & Schwartz, S. (2003). Brief Strategic Family Therapy for adolescent drug abuse (NIH Pub. No. 03-4751). National Institute on Drug Abuse.

• MI - Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd Edition) by William R. Miller and Stephen Rollnick, Guilford Press, 2012.

• Maintain fidelity and submit fidelity assessments to DCF:

• MST® - MST Services’ Program Implementation Review

• Intercept® - Youth Villages’ Program Model Review Report

• BSFT® - Maintain licensure through BSFT® Institute at University of Miami, which requires fidelity assessments, or other model developer listed on Title IV-

E Clearinghouse

• MI – Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding Manual (MITI) https://casaa.unm.edu/assets/docs/miti4_21.pdf

See Section 4.6 Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements for information on funding to support earning credential/training for the two Evidence-Based Practices that will be new to the S&S service array through this RFR - BSFT® or MI.

Providers interested in bidding a different evidence-based practice from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse may use the “Other Service” category for that purpose.

Motivational Interviewing

• Motivational Interviewing will be embedded within the delivery of another Support & Stabilization service.

• Eligible services:

Safe and Stable Family Services o Safe & Stable o Safe & Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support o Safe & Stable – Peer Support Specialist

Comprehensive Services for Child Welfare o Comprehensive Services – Family o Comprehensive Services – Intensive Family o Comprehensive Services – Therapeutic o Comprehensive Services – Family Member with a Disability

Substance Use Interventions for Child Welfare o Substance Use Interventions – Parent/Caregiver o Substance Use Interventions – Peer Support Specialist o Substance Use Interventions – Youth

Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention

Questions about Evidence-Based Practices

Questions about EBPs

Is it possible to provide MI without the fidelity monitoring or with a more informal version of fidelity monitoring?

No. To qualify for Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements (see Section 4.6), the use of Motivational Interviewing must adhere to the expectations described in Section 2.2, including the use of formal fidelity monitoring. Lack of fidelity monitoring or use of a more informal version of fidelity monitoring would not meet the expectations for Evidence-Based Practice Motivational Interviewing.

Can you choose to embed Motivational Interviewing at a later date?

Motivational Interviewing (MI) embedded in another S&S service will be procured competitively.

Therefore, MI can be bid only during the initial response period.

After the initial response period, MI cannot be bid unless DCF re-opens the RFR, which would be posted via a Notice of Intent on COMMBUYS.

Will evidence-based models be required to send data to DCF?

Yes.

Questions about Motivational Interviewing

1. Can you provide the rate for services with MI embedded?

2. What is the rate for Motivational Interviewing?

There is no separate rate for Motivational Interviewing + an S&S service.

The rate will be the published rate for the S&S service model in which MI is embedded + the Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements for MI, which will be based on the number of services with MI embedded.

MI will be procured competitively to ensure funding for the Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements.

Questions about Motivational Interviewing

The funding pool that may be established for compensating select providers of Motivational Interviewing indicates that eligible expenses include salary and fringe costs related to carrying out requirements related to coding and reporting on coding data of the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding Manual.

Would the department consider amending this list of eligible costs to include the costs of implementing software (i.e. Lyssn) that supports coding and reporting on coding data?

Yes, an amendment would be considered.

1. Are other agencies allowed to bid for Intercept and will they have to contract with Youth Villages?

2. It is well known that Intercept, the evidence-based practice (EBP) that was approved in the clearinghouse, belongs to Youth Villages, an existing competitor doing business in MA. Can all providers bid on Intercept or will this only be awarded to Youth Villages? As an agency, we have contacted Youth Villages to inquire about purchasing training since it became an (EBP), but we have been unsuccessful in receiving a response.

3. How can providers become trained in Intercept and what is the cost?

Let’s expand these questions and apply them to all four Evidence-Based practices to clarify how the term “Evidence-Based Practices” is applied in the S&S service array.

Questions about EBPs (cont.)

Expanded question –

Are other agencies allowed to bid for BSFT®/ Intercept®/ MST®/MI and will they have to contract with the model developers of those services? (Model developers = BSFT® Institute U of Miami or other model developer listed on the Title IV-E Clearinghouse; Intercept® Youth Villages; MST® MST Services; MI Miller & Rollnick through

MINT)

To deliver an EBP, a provider must be trained/credentialed by the EBP developer or a trainer designated by the EBP developer. Yes, it would be necessary to consult with the EBP developer to determine whether this is possible.

EBP model developers can deliver services directly, train/credential other providers to deliver the service, or do both. This decision resides with EBP model developers.

Evidence-Based Practices Cost Reimbursement Supplements apply to BSFT® or MI.

Short-term response focused on family functioning, parent-child attachment, conflict resolution, supporting day-to-day family responsibilities.

Team-based delivery, availability for 24/7 in-person responding.

“Bridge” to other services.

Questions about Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention

Questions about Family Crisis/Trauma Intervention

Short-term services are offered by a team designed to respond in-person and 24/7 to a crisis or trauma, emphasizing stabilizing family members’ immediate response to crisis or trauma and supporting and strengthening caregiving capacity.

Examples of family crises or traumas may include overdose, death of a family/household member, hospitalization, running away, attempted suicide, house fire, or witnessing of in-person violence. I sense that this service model may ask us to intervene more directly than for comprehensive services. However, let's try to get more clarity on expectations because, again, if a tragedy is happening or just happened, we would only send someone into the field if there were other supports there as well. (DCF, police, ect) We will not send someone into an unsafe environment without proper information or support to ensure that our workers are not at risk for danger or safety issues.

Crises may happen in a family’s home or in the community. After an overdose, death, hospitalization, attempted suicide, or house fire, the location for meeting the family may be a hospital or other health care facility. When considering whether to bid on this service, consider that in emergency situations, all “proper information” may not be immediately available for review.

Providers proposing to deliver this service should rely on all available safety measures including working in a team, use of technology, on-going safety trainings, and other internal policies and procedures.

Respite for Child Welfare

Hourly or Daily

Temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities by providing children with safe, developmentally appropriate care and supervision while away from caregivers.

Questions about Respite

For respite, if a congregate care provider has an open bed, they can accept a respite referral, correct?

What if a congregate care provider is full but they know at least one kid will be going on a visit for the weekend - can they accept a respite referral even though beds are technically full?

Currently, DCF CCNET contracted providers are not eligible to provide respite services. The idea of using a vacant bed for respite is a possibility that will be considered for the future. The use of a bed occupied by a child away for the weekend will not be considered.

How will DCF differentiate between services that provide an hourly rate vs a daily rate for similar interventions?

Respite services may be provided in hourly or daily increments. Determining whether respite will be provided on an hourly or daily basis will be based on the needs of the family needing the service. Per the rate unit information for respite services in the RFR, distinctions between hourly and daily rates will be based on the following:

• Hourly rate when purchasing less than 5 hours of service in a 24-hour period.

• Daily rate when purchasing 5 or more hours of service in a 24-hour period.

Can respite services under the Respite for Child Welfare service model be delivered by licensed foster parents in licensed foster homes instead of directly by staff? If so, would the department determine what proportion of the rate would go to the foster parent, or would the provider agency make that determination?

Currently, licensed foster homes are not eligible to provide Respite for Child Welfare Services. This is a possibility that will be considered for the future.

The table on page 129 of the RFP notes “Caregiver Respite” as a “service Model”, but the “service categories” listed on pg. 23 of the RFP uses the term “Respite for Child Welfare” as well as the term in APPENDIX E.12: Response Sheet Part B: Respite for Child Welfare. Please confirm if these two services are one in the same.

Yes.

Preparation Support

Preparation Support Preparation Support – Peer Support Specialist Preparation Support – Supervised Family Time Preparation Support – Group

In person, action-oriented services to assist caregivers to prepare themselves, their homes, and their social networks for a child’s entrance into or reunification with the family, prior to children being placed in or returned to their care.

Use of the term “Supervised Family Time.”

Questions about Preparation Support

Questions about Preparation Support

We would like to confirm the Supervised Visitation Services that our agency provides falls under this section (pg 31 of RFR), as we have not found anything describing the type SUPERVISED VISITATION SERVICES we provide in other sections document itself: Other Services for Child Welfare?

See the service model “Preparation Support – Supervised Family Time” on pages 84 and 88.

Supervised Family Time is already included as a service model in the RFR. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to bid it as “Other Service.”

For supervised visits (Family Time), would providers be required to provide any transportation? Are providers required to provide a location?

p. 9 for all providers – Convenient locations and transportation assistance. Often, the most convenient location for service delivery is in the location where a consumer is living (e.g., a family of origin’s home, a kinship home, a child’s out-of-home placement, a temporary shelter). For some services, there may be times when it is necessary to deliver services in a community-based location. Whenever accessing services will require a consumer to travel, providers will provide transportation assistance, if needed, as a way to overcome transportation as a barrier to obtaining services.

Supervised Family Time can be delivered in a variety of different locations: where the parent/guardian is living, where the child is living, in a provider’s space designed for Family Time, or in community-based locations such as libraries, playgrounds, restaurants, grocery stores, or laundromats, where the focus is on building caregiving skills while in the community.

Can DCF speak to the safety risks of doing supervised visits? For example, when visits are done at the DCF office, a security officer is present - should providers be prepared to contract for security for visits?

Each provider interested in submitting a bid for Supervised Family Time will need to consider the potential risks of delivering this service and make corresponding staffing decisions. As a point of clarification, DCF does have access to security personnel to assist in Area and Regional Offices when there are safety concerns. Safety concerns may occur for reasons other than a Supervised Family Time session and security personnel are not requested for all Supervised Family Time sessions that occur at Area Offices.

Youth Support

Youth Support – Enrichment Youth Support – Educational & Vocational Youth Support – Non School Hours for Children with Disabilities Youth Support – Transition-Aged Youth Youth Support – Group

Cover a broad range of needs that children have throughout their developmental stages from young childhood through young adulthood.

Questions about Youth Support

Questions about Youth Support Services

The Youth Support: Transition-Aged Youth service model indicates services must be delivered in-person. To align with engagement strategies shown to be highly effective with this population, and to align with the allowance made for the Therapeutic – Youth service model, would the department consider amending this in-person requirement for Youth Support: Transition-Aged Youth to allow for approval to supplement in-person meetings with virtual meetings should a youth express this preference?

See the Use of telecommunications and technology section of the RFR on page 9. For Youth Support Services, and for all S&S services that require in-person service delivery, virtual connections and communication may be used as a supplemental way to connect with consumers.

Mediation for Child Welfare

Mediation

Apply the problem-solving approach of mediation to reaching agreements and resolving conflicts that occur in child welfare cases.

Evaluate caregivers’ and/or children’s strengths and needs in a range of domains:

• Physical safety,

• Mental/Behavioral health, Social connections, Economic stability, Trauma and/or crisis response, Educational/vocational progress, and Disability identification and supports.

Difference between Assessment with a capital “A” compared to assessments used throughout S&S services.

Questions about Assessment

Questions about Assessment Services

For Assessment on pg. 101 under staffing it states - "for assessments that do not have a minimum requirement, staff delivering services must have a minimum of a master's degree OR licensure“ in Response Sheet Part B Assessment - under Staffing and Experience #2 it is requiring licensure. Please clarify.

Professional use of Assessments is based on individual staff members using only those Assessments for which they have the appropriate training and expertise. Most publishers of Assessments specify the training and experience credentials required for use of specific Assessments. For example, see Pearson’s Qualifications Policy https://www.pearsonassessments.com/professional-assessments/ordering/how-to-order/qualifications/qualifications-policy.html

The statement on p. 101 is referring specifically to assessments that do not have a minimum requirement for training and experience credentials. The question on Response Sheet Part B: Assessment is referring to those staff who will have licensure. This is establishing the expectation that a provider bidding on the Assessment service model has at least one staff person with relevant licensure.

Is there a maximum amount of hours that can be billed for an assessment? What is billable under that service?

For example, documentation, collateral contact, travel, etc.

Although there is not a cap on maximum number of billable hours for an assessment, providers conducting assessments are expected to consult and reach agreement with the DCF clinical team and Area Lead Agency regarding the scope, duration, number of hours, and total cost for the assessment before the service begins. For information about billable activities for hourly services, see the slides titled “Questions about Hourly Rates.

Is it required that the gathering of information assessments is done in person with the family?

Per the Location of Service information in the service model table for Assessment Services, “the expectation is for assessments to be conducted in-person. Providers will be expected to have the capacity to supplement in-person sessions with virtual availability and to use virtual connection in emergency situations when in-person contact is not possible.” (pg. 101)

In regards to the Assessment Services for Child Welfare model, is this for the Parent Capacity Assessment or a different assessment?

The S&S RFR does not include the Parenting Capacity Evaluation Service.

If a different assessment, can you please identify/describe what it would be?

Assessments may be requested for any of the following domains:

• Physical safety,

• Mental/Behavioral health,

• Social connections,

• Economic stability,

• Trauma and/or crisis response,

• Educational/vocational progress, and

• Disability identification and supports.

To accommodate providers’ proposals for services that they do not see represented in the other service categories.

To acknowledge and welcome creativity now and in future.

To allow proposals for other evidence-based practices from the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.

Questions about Other Services

Can an “Other Service Category” model have a treatment length that is generally longer than three months?

Yes.

Are entries submitted under the “Other Service Category” considered to be the “Non-competitive” method or the “Competitive” method?

Non-competitive

Competitive vs. Non-Competitive Procurement

Calendar Rule Type, p. 111

Non-Competitive Method: For service models procured using the non-competitive method, the procurement will be issued on a Rolling-Enrollment basis, bidders may apply unsolicited until June 30, 2033.

Responses received after the initial response due date will be reviewed on a periodic basis, anticipated to be on a quarterly basis.

Calendar Rule Type, p. 111

Competitive Method: For service models procured using the competitive method, bidders may apply until the initial RFR Responses Due Date stated in Section 3.12 - July 12, 2024 at

2:00 PM.

• Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) and Motivational Interviewing embedded with another S&S service model will be acquired using the competitive method through which the Department will select a limited number of providers.

• For the competitive method, DCF will determine when and if the RFR will be re-opened. If the RFR is re-opened, DCF will post a Notice of Intent to COMMBUYS.

Questions about Competitive vs.

Non-Competitive Procurement

Questions about Competitive vs. Non-Competitive

Which models will be competitively procured? Which ones will be non-competitively procured? (RFR, p. 111) In other words, which models can an applicant propose on a rolling basis at a later date?

Are the evidence-based practice models the only competitive models that cannot be bid unsolicited on a rolling enrollment basis? Can all other service models be bid on at any time until 2033?

Brief Strategic Family Therapy® (BSFT®) and Motivational Interviewing embedded with another S&S service model will be acquired using the competitive method through which the Department will select a limited number of providers.

All other service models will be procured non-competitively.

Questions about Competitive vs. Non-Competitive

Will there be any rolling submissions beyond the initial deadline that may be considered ongoing in the future?

For example, if our agency wants to submit an “other” and suggest a model at a later date, Or if we were in a different position and wanted to consider other program models not included in this one?

Yes, there are rolling submissions for all non-competitively procured models.

Yes, bids for the “Other Service” category may be submitted after the initial response due date.

Yes, the “Other Service” category may be used to propose other program models.

Questions about Resubmittals

What is the process of re-submitting a response if Part A does not meet the minimum requirements/points?

For services that are non-competitively procured, there is an open submittal process. Providers may use COMMBUYS for resubmittal at any time after the initial response period.

If an agency submits by the initial deadline, when will they be able to submit additional proposals again under the rolling submission?

Additional proposals may be submitted again at any time under the rolling submittal process through 2033.

Responding to the RFR

Response Package

See instructions in Section 6.7 Bidder’s Response and Related Contract Documents Complete all sections of required documents Use the Cover Sheet - Checklist to track progress on required documents

Unscored Items on Response Sheet

• The Specialization item on response sheets is unscored.

• There is not a requirement to specialize.

• Checking off a specialization or leaving specialization blank will not affect the point values awarded to your response.

• The Specialization item, and other unscored items, will deepen DCF’s understanding of the service you are proposing. It is information that is helpful to know.

• Checking off a Specialization is not a requirement.

Questions about Responding to

RFR

Questions about Response Due Date

1. With the RFR coming at the beginning of the summer and to allow time for FAQs to return after the Bidder’s conference, would the Department consider extending the date of the RFR due date?

2. Can there be an extension to the July 12 response deadline, given the tight turnaround time for that with Questions and Answers to Written Inquiries being posted on June 26 and the July 4 holiday?

3. Would there be any possibility of an extension given that there is only 6 weeks from the Bidder’s Conference and not all questions may be answered? Also, it is the end of the fiscal year which brings challenges that are extremely time-sensitive.

I appreciate your consideration.

For a different reason, specifically the EHS date change for the public hearing for 101 CMR 451.00, the Response Due Date will be amended.

The amended date will be determined based on the new public hearing date, and it will take into consideration at a minimum four weeks AFTER the new EOHHS public hearing date for 101 CMR 415.00

See on COMMBUYS: Update on Cancelled Public Hearing

Questions about Response Due Date

1. We are hoping you might be able to clarify a due date for us. We noticed that COMMBUYS says the bid opening date is June 30th. It says responses are due July 12th, which is contradictory to the bid opening date and since it has to be submitted on COMMBUYS we assume it won’t accept after June 30th.

2. Can you please confirm that responses are due on July 12, 2024?

Regarding the due date for responses, see on COMMBUYS: Update on Cancelled Public Hearing.

Note that the COMMBUYS “Bid Opening Date” is different than the Response Due Date.

Questions about Responding to RFR

We are an organization that has not provided any work with DCF we have and are working with DYS. Does that still make us new providers or Existing? We already have a vendor number and access to the vendor Web for EFT payments do we have to do the Qualification form as well?

If a provider is already qualified by another agency, re-qualification is not necessary as such qualification forms need not be submitted with the RFR response.

Can you explain a bit about the SDP requirements? We have not made any commitments with any agency and as a requirement, we need to have at least one. Do we just pick one that we would like to work with and after the contract, we fulfill our financial commitment with them to satisfy the RFR?

The Supplier Diversity Program (SDP) encourages the award of state contracts in a way that strengthens and increases business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (SDVOBEs),Veteran Business Enterprises (VBEs), Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs); and Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs).

To achieve this, a percentage commitment needs to be identified at the time of your submittal utilizing the form titled SDP-FORM-for-POS 7.18.23 in the Required Forms folder of the RFR. To find out which businesses in your area would be considered MBEs Click Here.

Please provide clarification about the following statement in the RFR: During the initial response period, Bidders may not submit multiple response packages (i.e., what COMMBUYS refers to as Quotes) in response to this RFR (i.e., what COMMBUYS refers to as a Bid) for the same service model. If a Bidder submits multiple response packages in response to this RFR, only the latest dated response package submitted on COMMBUYS prior to the initial response due date will be evaluated.

Let’s break this down into bullets:

• Each bidder will submit a single Response Package.

• Submitting multiple Response Packages for the same service model is not allowed.

• If a bidder forgets that only a single Response Package is allowed and happens to submit multiple Response Packages that include bids for the same service model, then only the latest dated Response Package submitted to COMMBUYS will be evaluated.

Bottom line – Submit only a single Response Package.

My agency wants to deliver the Safe and Stable service. We can serve families with any ages, plus we can serve a few families with a teen who identifies as LGBTQAI+. Do I have to submit a separate Response Package for the service to families with a teen who identifies as LGBTQAI+?

This can be accomplished as a bid for the Safe and Stable service, with a specialization to serve youth who identify as LGBTQAI+.

• In written responses, communicate the intention to deliver Safe and Stable services to a broad range of families as well as to a small number of families with a teen who identifies as LGBTQAI+.

• Check off the appropriate box in the Specialization section on Part B of the response sheets, which lists multiple, possible specialization areas, including LGBTQAI+.

This will require one (1) Part B: Service Model Response Sheet because one (1) unique service model is being proposed.

With the Framingham Area office being added to the Central Region, if we plan to provide a service to the entire Central Region, should we check off Framingham under Northeast Region or will it be assumed if we select all of the Central Region that we will serve Framingham?

Regardless of upcoming or future reconfigurations in DCF office structure, providers should check off the Regional and Area Offices, as represented on the Response Sheets, based on where providers are interested in delivering services.

These checked off responses will neither obligate nor prevent providers from delivering services to consumers served by specific Area Offices. The checked off responses will assist DCF in understanding the strengths and weaknesses in the newly created S&S service array.

Can you submit for multiple types of groups within 1 proposal?

A Bidder’s Response Package for a Provider Organization will include the following:

1. RFR Cover Sheet and Checklist

2. Response Sheets

i. Appendix E.1: Response Sheet Part A. ONLY 1 Part A per Response Package

ii. Appendix E.2-18: Response Sheet(s) Part B: Service Model Response

1. Every Response Package must include a separate Response Sheet Part B: Service Model Response for each unique service model that a Bidder is proposing.

• To bid for multiple types of groups, include a separate Part B: Service Model Response Sheet for each proposed group. For example, three (3) Part B: Service Model Response Sheets to propose three (3) different groups.

If a bidder is proposing different strategies and/or serving different populations, utilizing the same DCF Service Model, can we submit more than one Response Sheet, Part B?

If proposing to serve different populations utilizing the same service model, submit one (1) Part B Response Sheet.

Use the Specialization section to check and/or list different populations that will be served.

The response to the question about proposing different strategies utilizing the same service model may vary depending on the specific service model. As a general response, it should be possible to use one (1) Part B Response Sheet per service model.

For the Response Sheet Part B for Groups, should we select all types of groups being proposed, and then duplicate the questions for each group being proposed and submit one document with all of the responses? Or should it be a separate document for each type of group? (with only the group included in that document checked off?)

There should be a separate Part B for Groups Response Sheet for each different type of group proposed.

We offer 5 different parenting group curricula. Should we complete a separate Appendix E. 18 Response Sheet Part B: Groups for Child Welfare form for each curriculum, or can one sheet be utilized and inclusive of all 5?

Yes, submit five different Response Sheet Part B, one for each curriculum. There should be a separate Part B for Groups Response Sheet for each different type of group proposed.

Our Parenting Groups are inclusive, although not targeting of, parents who experience a large number - if not all

- of the characteristics listed in the "Specialization" section. ( i.e. young parents, parents with children of various age ranges, etc). Should we check all of the categories?

Given that the groups are inclusive and not specialized, there is no need to check off anything in the “Specialization” section.

Is a separate Part B: service response sheet required for each individual service within one category? For example, for APPENDIX E.2: Response Sheet Part B: Safe and Stable Family Services where the bidder must select only one of the options below, if a bidder is responding to all three options, are three separate Response Sheets required for each of the three options; (1) Safe & Stable, (2) Safe & Stable – Peer Support Specialist, and

(3) Safe & Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support.

APPENDIX E.2: Response Sheet Part B: Safe and Stable Family Services Provider Organizations shall respond to each of the following sections in full for each Safe & Stable service being proposed.

This response sheet is for which Safe & Stable service? Check only one.

☐ Safe & Stable ☐ Safe & Stable – Peer Support Specialist ☐ Safe & Stable – Social Connections and Permanency Support

Yes, use a separate Part B Response Sheet for each service model being proposed.

Questions about Responding

In the Response Sheet Part B documents, the section that is in the box that asks for information that will not be scored, how will that information be used? Will it be factored into the referral process?

Data from the informational sections of Response Sheets will be used to inform DCF’s understanding of the newly created S&S service array to support making appropriate referrals and helping the Department identify service gaps.

Is the unscored content in outlined boarders at the beginning of each Appendix E.2 – E.18 Response sheet (pgs. 1-4) included in the page count limits?

Yes.

Regarding Question 6 in Appendix E.3: Response Sheet Part B: Comprehensive Services for Child Welfare, is there any other specific information you want us to provide other than identifying the specific tools we will use for the Five Protective Factors, in addition to providing a link to website for a different tool and/or electronic copy of provider-created tool, as necessary?

No additional information is required.

Questions about Staffing

Would the Department consider revising education level for non-clinical positions? The RFR currently asking for bachelor’s degree or 5 years’ experience, Massachusetts is offering free associate degree opportunities at the Community College level, concern is that salaries are not high enough to employee bachelor’s degree and there are not many candidates available at that level of education.