Forensic BH RFP Q and A.pdf

Forensic Behavior Health RFP Opportunity # 21260602084904

FY27 Request for Proposal Questions and Answers Date: July 10, 2026

Budget

Question 1: Most of the fields in the budget template are not applicable to this type of contract because there are no indirect costs, fringe benefits, or operating expenses that will impact the budget. Instead, the services will be provided on a fee for service basis according to the proposed fee per service and the exact number of each service that will be provided will be dependent upon DHS referral patterns. I can add a fee schedule page to the budget spreadsheet or should be include it as is with just N/A in all not relevant fields?

Answer 1: Applicants should complete the budget template as required and may attach a separate fee schedule that clearly identifies proposed fee-for-service rates. Non-applicable budget categories may be marked "N/A" where appropriate.

Question 2: Is the stated not-to-exceed contract amount of $500,000 intended for a single provider award or across all awarded providers collectively?

Answer 2: The not-to-exceed amount of $500,000 represents the total funding available under this solicitation. DHS reserves the right to award one or multiple contracts, with funding allocated at the Department's discretion.

Question 3: The RFP requests a tiered fee schedule. Does DHS have a preferred pricing format (e.g., per-evaluation fees, hourly rates, separate testimony fees, separate record review fees)?

Answer 3: Applicants may propose their own tiered fee schedule. The fee schedule should clearly distinguish pricing by service type and professional qualifications, as applicable.

Program

Question 4: Can DHS provide the approximate number of forensic behavioral health evaluation referrals anticipated annually and/or monthly under this contract? If available, please provide referral volume from the most recent fiscal year.

Answer 4: Referral volume will vary based on operational need and court activity. DHS cannot guarantee a minimum number of referrals.

Question 5: The RFP states that DHS may award contracts to one or multiple providers. If multiple providers are selected, how does DHS anticipate allocating referrals among providers?

Answer 5: If multiple providers are selected, referrals will be assigned based on factors including evaluator expertise, availability, timeliness, geographic accessibility, workload, and the specific needs of each case.

Question 6: Can DHS provide historical or estimated percentages of referrals by evaluation type (e.g., parenting capacity evaluations, psychological evaluations, attachment assessments, reunification assessments, disability-related evaluations, mental health evaluations)?

Answer 6: Referral distribution will vary according to operational needs. Applicants should demonstrate the capacity to complete the full range of evaluation services identified in the RFP.

Question 7: Will referrals generally include a specific court order outlining the scope of the evaluation, or will DHS provide a referral question and evaluation objectives?

Answer 7: Referrals will generally include the relevant court order, referral information, and the evaluation questions or objectives to be addressed.

Question 8: What are DHS's expected timeframes for:

Referral acceptance Initial appointment scheduling Completion of evaluations Submission of written reports Availability for court testimony

Answer 8: Applicants are expected to accept referrals promptly, schedule evaluations as soon as reasonably possible, complete evaluations within court-ordered or DHS-requested timeframes, submit reports in a timely manner, and remain available for court testimony as needed.

Question 9: Approximately what percentage of evaluations historically require court appearances, testimony, depositions, or participation in legal proceedings?

Answer 9: The percentage of evaluations requiring testimony varies depending on court proceedings. Applicants should anticipate that some evaluations will require expert testimony and maintain availability for court appearances when requested.

Question 10: Can DHS clarify which evaluation types require a licensed psychologist with forensic training and which evaluation types may be conducted by other licensed behavioral health professionals under the supervision of a licensed psychologist?

Answer 10: Evaluations addressing specific psycho-legal issues, including parenting capacity and other forensic psychological constructs, should be completed by licensed psychologists with appropriate forensic training.

Other evaluations may be completed by qualified behavioral health professionals under the supervision of a Pennsylvania licensed psychologist, consistent with the RFP requirements.

Question 11: For evaluations completed by non-psychologist clinicians under supervision, who is expected to provide court testimony—the evaluator, the supervising psychologist, or either as appropriate?

Answer 11: The clinician most qualified to testify regarding the completed evaluation should be available for court proceedings. DHS may request testimony from the evaluator, the supervising psychologist, or both, depending on the circumstances of the case.

Question 12: Are virtual or hybrid forensic evaluations permissible for any referral types under this contract?

Answer 12: Virtual or hybrid evaluations may be considered when clinically appropriate and consistent with the referral needs. DHS reserves the right to require in-person evaluations when necessary.

Question 13: Does DHS utilize standard report templates, required formats, or preferred assessment instruments for specific evaluation types?

Answer 13: DHS does not require a standardized report template. Reports should conform to accepted forensic standards, address the referral questions, utilize evidence-based assessment methods, and be suitable for DHS and court review.

Question 14: What collateral records are typically provided to evaluators (e.g., DHS records, court records, medical records, school records, treatment records)?

Answer 14: When available, DHS or CUA will provide relevant collateral information, which may include DHS records, court documents, medical records, educational records, treatment records, prior evaluations, and other pertinent documentation. Additional records may be requested as needed to complete a comprehensive evaluation.