DMH Health Equity RFI_Final 2022 .docx

Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Project to Develop an Interactive Map for Understanding the Geographic Dispersion of Mental Health Services in Massachusetts Request for Information January 2023

Request for Information: The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information from a broad spectrum of interested organizations and individuals to help it determine how to approach identifying and assessing where gaps exist in the behavioral health service delivery system and the type of organization(s) it needs to procure to assist it in developing to an interactive map for analyzing the geographic dispersion of behavioral health services in Massachusetts and the potential costs. The goal of the project is to learn about approaches to identifying and assessing gaps and to identify gaps not only by geography, but also by knowing social determinants of health and other determinants of health based on historic systemic racism.

BACKGROUND

DMH seeks to expand its understanding of the geographic dispersion of behavioral health treatment in Massachusetts and identify communities and populations that are underserved. Currently, analysis conducted solely with DMH utilization data focus on individuals enrolled in DMH-operated or contracted community or outpatient programs or continuing care facilities. This limits the understanding of behavioral health service needs to those that have applied for and been determined eligible for DMH services. To expand its understanding, DMH intends to undertake a project to understand approaches to identifying and assessing gaps in behavioral health services delivery and create an interactive map of Massachusetts that will allow it to assess the availability and use of behavioral health services in Massachusetts beyond those it provides. It seeks to create a map that will allow the analysis of the availability and use of mental health services by (1) different cities, towns, and communities; (2) racial and ethnic populations; (3) known social determinants of health (e.g., income and social status; social support networks; education and literacy, employment/working conditions, social environments, physical environments) and (4) other determinants related to historical systematic racism. Knowledge gained from learning approaches in identifying and assessing gaps will increase DMH’s understanding of appropriate methods for this analysis. The interactive map will provide a key tool to DMH in understanding and addressing unmet behavioral health service needs within Massachusetts.

DMH is seeking information on how to effectively implement this project. It is interested in learning of organizations that have the knowledge of methods to identify gaps and have developed similar types of maps and data analysis. It is also interested in learning of organizations that have used redlining data or other sources to provide a historical context for current health outcomes. It is particularly interested in learning of organization that are racially and ethnically diverse and approach projects with an equity focus. DMH is also interested in learning what data are needed for the project. In addition to learning data needs that may currently exist, DMH is interested in learning what data are needed to be collected through community outreach. In Section II., below, are the specific questions/request for information that DMH is seeking assistance in addressing.

If you can assist DMH, please submit your response according to the instructions provided below by February 23, 2023, by 3pm. Feel free to respond to only those topic areas on which you would like to provide input. We encourage you to respond and thank you in advance for your feedback.

QUESTIONS AND REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FOR RESPONSE

1. Describe a proposed management framework for the map project. Also, propose organizations that could serve in this role and why. Describe key qualifications DMH should require when procuring such an organization for this project.

2. Describe what do you believe are the key components of the mapping project? For each component listed indicate the applicable tasks and goals and the needed skill sets. Specify what order the components need to be completed and which components are dependent and which are interdependent.

3. What data do you think is essential for the project? Indicate the data that already exists and the potential sources of such data (federal government, state agencies; other entities) and what data will need to be created. As to data collection needs, indicate how much will be dependent on community outreach. Specify how the data applicable to systematic racism should be used.

4. Describe the approach that should be utilized by the project to ensure that redlined data or other sources are utilized to provide a historical context for the health outcomes existing today in certain communities?

5. Indicate if there is a need to capture information about the communities that would not be evident through examining quantitative data. Provide example.

6. Propose organizations that could do the data collection and the community outreach. Describe the key qualifications DMH should requiring when procuring such organizations for this project.

7. Propose organizations that could do the data analysis and mapping components of the project and indicate why. Describe key qualifications DMH should require when procuring such an organization for this project. Include what technical requirements should be required regarding the map to be developed.

8. Describe other resources that are needed for the project.

9. Provide a ballpark figure of the funding DMH should commit to the project. Describe what you believe the cost drivers will be and ways DMH can minimize these drivers.

10. Describe what you believe will be the needed timeframe for the project.

11. Describe how DMH can ensure that racial and ethnical diversity in the project.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

A. Format

1. Responses must be typed: using Times New Roman 12-point font and single spaced. All pages must be numbered.

2. Please include the following information at the start of your response:

Name: ________________________________________________________ Organization Name (if applicable): ________________________________________________ Tel#: _______________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________

3. For each question/request for information to which you are providing a response, repeat the question/request for information and number before the response

4. Relevant supplementary information (e.g., publication citations, links to additional information) that supports your response(s) may be included with your response. Attachments must be clearly labeled with the Respondent’s name and the RFI question/response for information number that it addresses. Do not include marketing or promotional material with your response. This information will be disregarded on review. Please keep your responses to key points to help facilitate review.

5. Respondents are not required to respond to every question/request for information; respond to as many as you elect to address.

B. Responses Due Date and Submission Format

Responses to this RFI are due no later than February 23, 2023, by 3:00 PM EST.

Respondents must submit their response through COMMBUYS. If a respondent has any issues with responding through COMMBUYS, it should contact the COMMBUYS Help Desk at COMMBUYS@state.ma.us or call during normal business hours (8AM – 5PM Monday – Friday) at 1-888-627-8283 or 617-720-3197.

Useful Links:

· Job aid on how to submit a response: http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/commbuys/create-a-quote.pdf

· Webcast: How to Locate and Respond to a Bid in COMMBUYS, will familiarize respondents with COMMBUYS terminology, basic navigation, and provide guidance for locating bid opportunities in COMMBUYS and submitting an online quote.

C. Reasonable Accommodation

Respondents with disabilities or hardships who seek reasonable accommodations in responding to this RFI must communicate such requests by e-mail to Jerome Collins at Jerome.Collins@mass.gov. Requests for accommodation will be addressed on a case by case basis. DMH reserves the right to reject unreasonable requests.

ADDITIONAL RFI INFORMATION

A. RFI Access

This RFI has been distributed electronically using the Commonwealth Procurement Access and Solicitation System (COMMBUYS). COMMBUYS is an electronic mechanism used for advertising and distributing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ procurements and related files. No individual may alter (manually or electronically) the RFI or its components except those portions intended to collect the respondent’s response. Interested parties may access COMMBUYS at the following address: http://www.commbuys.com. Questions specific to COMMBUYS should be made to the COMMBUYS Help Desk at commbuys@mass.gov.

B. RFI Amendments

Interested parties are responsible for checking COMMBUYS for any addenda or modifications that are subsequently made to this RFI. The DMH accepts no liability and will provide no accommodation to interested parties who fail to check for amendments to the RFI.

C. Use of RFI Information DMH reserves the right to accept or reject, in part or in full, any information contained in or submitted in response to this RFI. The RFI is not binding on DMH and shall not obligate DMH to issue a procurement that incorporates any RFI provisions or responses. Responding to this RFI is entirely voluntary, will in no way affect DMH’ consideration of any proposal submitted in response to any subsequent procurement, and will not serve as an advantage or disadvantage to the respondent in the course of any procurement that may be issued. Responses to this RFI become the property of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and are public records under the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Law, M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 and c. 4, § 7, cl. 26, regarding public access to such documents. However, information provided to DMH in response to this RFI and identified by the respondent as trade secrets or commercial or financial information shall be kept confidential and shall be exempt from disclosure as a public record (see M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 26). This exemption may not apply to information submitted in response to any subsequent procurement.

D. Costs

Any cost incurred in responding to this RFI, or in support of activities associated with this RFI, are the sole responsibility of respondent. The DMH shall not be held responsible for any costs incurred by respondents in preparing their respective responses to this RFI.

E. Questions about the RFI and Response Instructions

Questions Concerning the RFI. The “Bid Q&A” provides the opportunity for respondents to ask written questions and receive written answers regarding this RFI. All respondents’ questions must be submitted through the Bid Q&A found on COMMBUYS. Questions may be asked only prior to January 24, 2023.

Questions submitted after the date and time specified above will not be considered for a response.

Respondents are responsible for entering content suitable for public viewing since all of the questions are or will be accessible to the public. Respondents must not include any information that could be considered personal, security sensitive, inflammatory, incorrect, collusory, or otherwise objectionable, including information about the Respondent’s company or other companies. The DMH reserves the right to edit or delete any submitted questions that raise any of these issues or that are not in the best interest of the Commonwealth.

Locating Bid Q&A: Log into COMMBUYS, locate the Bid (RFI), acknowledge receipt of the Bid, and scroll down to the bottom of the Bid Header page. The “Bid Q&A” button allows respondents access to the Bid Q&A page.

Informational Sessions: There will be no informational sessions associated with this RFI.

F. Thank You

The DMH appreciates the time and consideration you invest in responding to this RFI.