Final_RFI_523_2600000014_1_SO_FORM.PDF

Document ID: RFI 523 2600000014 Page: 1

Commonwealth of Kentucky

SOLICITATION

Modification: No Version #:

TITLE: DJJ- High Acuity Mental Health Treatment Model

Date Issued:

05/29/2026 Record Date:

05/28/2026

Solicitation Closes Date:

07/15/2026 Time:

03:00

Solicitation No:

RFI 523 2600000014

Online Bidding Prohibited: No

For Information Call:

Sara Briggs 502-892-3597

Bid Receiving Location:

Department of Juvenile Justice Bid Clerk 1025 Capital Center Dr Bldg #3 - 3rd Floor Frankfort KY 40601

Vendor Customer Number:

Vendor Name:

Phone Number:

Fax Number:

Email Address:

Ordering

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Contact Name:

Contact Email:

Contact Phone Number:

Payment

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Contact Name:

Contact Email:

Contact Phone Number:

Ownership Type

__ Sole Proprietorship __ Partnership __ Corporation __ Other_________________________

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED AGENT IS REQUIRED UNLESS RESPONSE

IS SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY. FAILURE TO SIGN SHALL RENDER

THE BID INVALID.

Signature X_________________________________________ FEIN#____________________ Date____________

All offers subject to all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation.

Document ID: RFI 523 2600000014 Page: 2

Line Items

Commodity Group: Default

Line CL Description Quantity UOM Unit Cost Line Total or Contract Amnt

1 High Acuity Mental Health Model

Comm Code Comm Description Manufacturer Model # Manuf Part #

91846 Feasibility Studies (Consulting)

Extended Description The 2026 Regular Session House Bill 500 directs the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Department of Juvenile Justice, to issue a Request for Information to solicit input and assess feasibility regarding the planning, development, and delivery of high-acuity mental health treatment services for juveniles. DJJ welcomes information that may strengthen the remaining design process, any Request for Bids process for construction of this facility, as well as any Request for Proposals process for medical service providers. If the Vendor would like to provide information on alternative methods of construction, delivery of services, or contracting for either, they may so do.

Shipping Information DJJ - Fiscal Branch

1025 Capital Center Drive Bldg #3 - 3rd Floor Frankfort KY 40601

Billing Information DJJ - Fiscal Branch

1025 Capital Center Drive Bldg #3 - 3rd Floor Frankfort KY 40601

Document ID: RFI 523 2600000014 Page: 3

Submission Checklist

The following items will be required to be submitted with bid:

Item

COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY

Request for Information (RFI)

For

High Acuity Mental Health Treatment Model for Kentucky’s Youth Solicitation # RFI – 523-2600000014

Date of Solicitation Release: 5/29/2026

Issued by Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

Department of Juvenile Justice

Commonwealth Buyer:

Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

Department of Juvenile Justice 1025 Capital Center Dr. Floor 3, Frankfort, KY 40601

502-892-3597 Sarab.briggs@ky.gov

Document Phase Document Description Page 4

2600000014 Final DJJ- High Acuity Mental Health Treatment Model Total Pages: 12 mailto:Sarab.briggs@ky.gov

I.Introduction The 2026 Regular Session House Bill 500 directs the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Department of Juvenile Justice, to issue a Request for Information to solicit input and assess feasibility regarding the planning, development, and delivery of high-acuity mental health treatment services for juveniles.

This RFI contains preliminary information from previous work related to this topic to serve as a platform for reaction and discussion with the vendor community. The requirements in this RFI are in no way final or represent what may be contained in any potential future requests for bids or proposals related to this facility. This issuance does not constitute a commitment to issue a bid or award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this request. Furthermore, the Commonwealth requires that all responding vendors abstain from providing any quotes or bids in response to this RFI.

II.RFI Process This RFI is being issued by the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Department of Juvenile Justice

The Commonwealth is seeking your input through a written response.

Written Responses and Inquiries All responses, questions and inquiries concerning this RFI should be directed in writing to the Commonwealth Buyer of record for this RFI.

JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY CABINET

DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE

502-892-3597 Sarab.briggs@ky.gov

From the issue date of this RFI until the responses are due, vendors shall not individually communicate with any Commonwealth staff concerning this RFI except as referenced above.

Interested parties are encouraged to submit any questions in writing to the buyer of record given above. Written questions are due on June 19, 2026 at 3:00 pm ET. The Commonwealth will respond to questions in an addendum to the RFI on June 30, 2026

RFI responses are due on July 15,2026 at 3:30pm ET. Respondents shall submit electronically in the eProcurement System, Kentucky Vendor Self Service site.

Document Phase Document Description Page 5 mailto:Sarab.briggs@ky.gov

High Acuity Mental Health Treatment Model for Kentucky’s Youth Request for Information (RFI)

III.Background and General Requirements

A. Background

Within the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) was formed in 1996 with the passage of House Bill 117. The mission of DJJ includes prevention programs for at-risk youths, court intake and pre-trial detention, probation services, residential and treatment placement for post-adjudicated youth, and reintegration programs.

DJJ currently operates eight (8) youth detention centers located throughout the state, separated by male and female youth, and level of offense. In addition to the existing detention centers, DJJ operates Youth Development Centers, Group Homes, and Day Treatment Programs for post-adjudicated youth in the commonwealth.

2023 Regular Session Senate Bill 162 stipulates that the existing juvenile detention centers will transition to a regional model of detention while safely segregating males and females and separating violent (high-level) and non-violent (low-level) offenders, and it directed DJJ to complete a study to determine the most practicable method for achieving this regional model. The commonwealth retained a design firm to review the existing eight (8) detention centers, translate departmental needs based on data provided by JPSC/ DJJ, and provide a comprehensive strategic plan of capital projects to maximize safety and security to return to a regional model.

The design firm completed an extensive analysis of the current detention facilities, identifying immediate needs and infrastructure required for replacement and/or repaid.

The team also analyzed data provided by DJJ to form the foundation for the regional capacity and separation recommendations.

The recommendation identified as being the most advantageous in cost, timeline, minimizing negative impact to operations, and positively impacting treatment capabilities included renovations and expansions to four (4) existing facilities in Breathitt, Fayette, Jefferson, and McCracken counties, with the understanding that these facilities, plus the facilities in Adair, Boyd, Campbell, Warren, and downtown Louisville, would be utilized for males. The plan then recommended the addition of newly constructed standalone facilities for females and high acuity mental health treatment services.

DJJ utilized this recommendation information to submit a capital budget request in 2024, which was funded in part in 2024 Regular Session House Bill 6. DJJ is currently in the process of executing major renovations in Breathitt, Fayette, Jefferson, and McCracken

Document Phase Document Description Page 6

County facilities. The legislature did not fund the request for standalone female or high acuity mental health facilities. Without these additional facilities, the recommended plan cannot be completed.

In 2024, DJJ engaged a design firm to provide additional analysis related to the delivery of mental health services and the development of initial design plans for a high acuity mental health facility for justice involved youth. The residential facility would function as a secure treatment unit capable of providing inpatient psychiatric care for juveniles and separately providing secure programming and behavioral modification services for high acuity youth who present without primary psychiatric diagnoses.

The team was instructed to provide a comprehensive study to document the need, potential operational model, bed capacity, site evaluation, design qualifications, and the conceptual cost to provide a secure residential treatment facility to serve the youth in DJJ custody with a high acuity mental illness or severe aggressive behavior requiring stabilization and/or treatment outside of the traditional detention or development center.

This study balanced the secure operational needs of DJJ and the clinical treatment requirements and regulatory accreditation criteria informed by stakeholders within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). To better understand the nuances of the objectives, goals, and specific needs for this facility, a joint workshop with stakeholders was held on May 28th and 29th of 2024. The result of this conversation defined the core tenets that became the foundation for the bed capacity, operational model, design framework, and definition of the environment of care for the high acuity treatment facility.

An immediate criterion established in the workshop valued the importance of casting a wide net to include the youth within DJJ custody with needs that are not currently met within the juvenile justice system. Balancing this with the other stated goal for a portion of this facility to include clinical treatment services for youth that would be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, it became apparent that two distinct components for this facility were required:

1. High acuity youth include those children whose manifest aggression, violence towards self or others, and destructive behaviors are the product of a diagnosed and persistent mental illness. For this sub-population, inpatient psychiatric care is the least restrictive setting where adequate care can be delivered.

2. High acuity youth also include some children whose manifest aggression, violence toward self or others, and destructive behaviors are not the product of diagnosed severe and persistent mental illness, but who require a level of security and programming at a dosage and intensity unavailable in a less restrictive setting in order to achieve stabilization.

High acuity youth in DJJ custody are defined as: a child who has been determined by a clinical professional within the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), following a

Document Phase Document Description Page 7 behavioral assessment, needs a secure treatment environment and specialized services capable of addressing manifest aggression, violence towards self or others, property destruction, or who cannot be adequately treated or managed in a less restrictive setting.

The programmatic stakeholders are defined as:

# Security: ensure the safety and security of staff and youth # Clinical Health: dedicated to the clinical treatment of youth # Individual: improve the condition and well-being of the self # Community: strengthen interaction with community members

Throughout the process, four (4) best practice standards, critical for balancing operational requirements with human health and wellness priorities to define the Design Framework, were identified:

# Dimensions of Wellness # Trauma-Informed Design # Clinical Requirements & Statutes # Environment of Care

This framework established the design criteria for the project, including:

# Site Evaluation Criteria for a potential location at either the Lyndon or Fayette Regional Juvenile Detention Center (RJDC)

# Development of the Space Program # Programmatic Adjacencies and Relationships, with future expansion # Key Space Types achieving operational requirements and quality of space

To meet the intended treatment and therapeutic environment qualities, the proposed programmatic need anticipates a facility size of 38,700 gross square feet with approximately 3,000 square feet of outdoor passive and active courtyard space and parking for a minimum of sixty (60) spaces for staff and visitors.

The consultant team provided narratives documenting code regulations, analysis, and recommendations for the secure high acuity mental health treatment facility.

The conceptual cost estimate, based on 2024 dollars, with general conditions, fees, and contingency, anticipated that the facility would cost approximately $24,750,000.

With escalation at 4% a year for two (2) years to the midpoint of construction, and a 30% Project Cost factor, the entire project costs for this facility were estimated at approximately $34,750,000.

In December 2024, the consultants also developed a concept design for the proposed facility and engaged a Healthcare Planning firm to assist with review of operational models, provided services, certification, and other operational considerations. This team analyzed current population data, federal and state laws and regulations related to both DJJ and Medicaid, as well as facility licensing and accreditation requirements. They provided recommendations on case management, referrals, and admissions, identified

Document Phase Document Description Page 8 potential challenges, and advised on Medicaid reimbursement eligibility. They also confirmed the design team’s recommendation for a 16-bed psychiatric facility with an 8-bed stabilization and assessment unit by analyzing the current population’s needs, as well as the requirements for psychiatric treatment facilities.

The concept includes innovative design for circulation, sight lines, and placement of central hubs for clinical services to improve efficiency, safety, and security, while focusing on providing individualized care to youth in residence. Preliminary programming and design discussions show that security measures can be balanced and complementary to clinical support spaces, while meeting all statutory requirements. This facility would serve as a leading national example of forward-thinking best practices for juvenile rehabilitation.

The design includes areas for intake, administration, community engagement, education, and security controls, as well as a centralized clinical health space with connecting assessment and stabilization units as well as psychiatric units, featuring flexible spaces to provide on-unit services and expand or contract grouping of youth within each space at the discretion of the providers and staff. It also includes the option for future expansion and additional housing units.

B. General Requirements

The information provided above is a current conceptual framework, intended to inform respondents of DJJ’s preliminary investigation and analysis, so that they may consider this information in their proposed solutions and information. Both the design and implementation plan for provision of services is subject to change, or adjustment, in future phases of this project. All planning, design concepts, and cost information are preliminary and for discussion only, and may not be relied upon for bidding or contractual purposes. Reference to prior consultants and consultant work is for background only and does not indicate preference in any future procurement.

At this time, DJJ would like to collect information that will help to inform potential future project decisions. DJJ anticipates consideration of information related to construction and operating plans with the following structures:

1. A facility is owned and operated by the Commonwealth, with DJJ providing the management and operational support of the facility with medical services provided via a suitable contractor;

2. A facility is owned and operated by the Commonwealth, with co-management of the facility wherein DJJ provides security and court interaction and a private healthcare service staffs the medical staff and bills Medicaid as a separate provider;

3. A facility is privately owned and operated with support on security and court interaction from DJJ staff;

Document Phase Document Description Page 9

4. Any alternative proposed model of delivering high acuity mental health services to juveniles in DJJ custody

DJJ welcomes information that may strengthen the remaining design process, any Request for Bids process for construction of this facility, as well as any Request for Proposals process for medical service providers. If the Vendor would like to provide information on alternative methods of construction, delivery of services, or contracting for either, they may so do.

It is requested that comments consider the need for the government to follow standards of due process, transparency, and notice.

The Vendor should feel free to discuss any other items that might be of importance to the Commonwealth that will help provide information concerning these issues. The Vendor should keep in mind while preparing a response that the Commonwealth is more interested at this time in gathering information, comments and suggestions for the potential development of a solicitation and contract rather than the particular items to be included in the contract.

C. Requested Information

The Vendor should address the following items “at a minimum” as they prepare a response to this RFI:

Firm information:

# Name of company # Address/Telephone Number # Contact Person # Brief History of company # Length of Time in Business # Firm Brochures, Literature if available # If Firm is a healthcare provider:

# Confirmation that healthcare provider qualifies for enhanced Medicaid reimbursement, including those eligible for a prospective payment system rate, an all-inclusive rate, or an equivalent reimbursement methodology.

# Experience with relevant services

# Information related to:

# evidence-based practices for high acuity behavioral health services;

# demonstrated expertise and operational capacity;

# cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability;

# the proposed service delivery model;

# partnership structure and accountability measures;

Document Phase Document Description Page 10

# plans for data collection, performance metrics, and outcome evaluation;

# any relevant cost estimates or cost comparison information for similar services and facilities;

# timelines for construction and/or the delivery of services.

Respondents may also provide information on as many topics below as they choose (optional)

# What kind of statistics, documentation, information, etc. will be necessary for the Commonwealth to furnish to the successful Respondent? What will be the impact on the program if some or all of this information is not readily available or not available?

# What kind of experience with high acuity mental health services should be required of Respondents if the Commonwealth issues a solicitation?

# What kind of experience with Medicaid reimbursement should be required of

Respondents if the Commonwealth issues a solicitation? What kind of documentation to demonstrate Medicaid eligibility and experience providing high acuity mental health treatment should be provided?

# What kind of reference requests would be helpful to the Commonwealth in understanding the financial condition and ability of the Respondents?

# What kind of time frame should be envisioned for onboarding a successful medical services provider? How long before completion of the facility should this provider be contracted?

# What is an estimated range of cost per youth, per day, price for medical services? What are the assumptions made for this estimated price?

# What kind of information and/or reports should the Commonwealth expect to receive during the term of a medical services contract, in addition to the below?

# Treatment plans # Treatment outcomes # Re-occurrence of high acuity behavior # Mental health assessments # Incident reports # Grievances

# Are there any further clarifications or additional areas for discussion to be included?

Document Phase Document Description Page 11

IV.Response Format

The Commonwealth is very interested in your comments, ideas and opinions concerning the most cost effective and efficient methods for the planning, development, and delivery of high-acuity mental health treatment services for juveniles.

The Sections that should be included in your response to the RFI are:

# Transmittal Letter

The transmittal letter should be in the form of a standard business letter and should be signed by an individual authorized to bind the vendor. It should note if any proprietary information has been included and the name, address, phone number, fax number and E-mail address of the vendor’s contact.

# Response Itself The Response should address the specific questions raised above, as well as give the requested information on the Respondent firm. Please provide hard responses with sections organized in the same order as the RFI. Sections need to be labeled with the section headers used in the RFI. In addition, please feel free to make any comments, observations, or suggestions that may assist the Commonwealth in its decision to draft a Request for Proposal, and the contract terms that may result from the Request for Proposal.

# Proprietary Information The vendor should place all confidential data, in order, under separate cover clearly marked confidential. All data should be titled and reference the question the information is related to.

V.Additional Information

Responses may be subject to Kentucky Open Records Law pursuant to the provisions of KRS 61.870 et. seq.

Document Phase Document Description Page 12