FY27 Sole Source Request Form (Thornton Care Center).docx

Sole Source Request Form C.R.S. 24-103-205 Department of Human Services Revised March 2023

Instructions:

1) Download and fill out this form.

2) Submit an eForm for a “New Purchase” with this form attached. The eForm routes through normal approvals, up to a Deputy Executive Director, then to procurement for approval.

If this request is approved and requires a PO, create an RQS and procurement will issue a PO. If this request is approved and requires a contract, submit a separate “Create/Modify Contract” eForm and RQS following the standard process.

Form:

1) Submitter or Requester Name: Jason Folbigg / Bonnie Wright

2) Program: OCFMH / MHTLs

3) Vendor Name: Thornton Care Center, LLC

4) Total Cost: $1,650,000.00

5) Contract or PO Term: Contract; July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

6) Describe the goods/services needed:

Thornton Care Center, LLC shall provide 10 fixed beds and 1 temporary long term bed, to clients that are in need of Activities of daily living (ADL) and intensive psychiatric services in tandem with traditional nursing home services including, but not limited to geriatric and/or general medical care. This facility specializes in ADL care, providing clients with essential tasks for physical survival such as bathing or showering, dressing, mobility, feeding and transferring, while meeting the department’s needs to maintain appropriate intensive psychiatric services for inpatient services.

7) Explain why this is the only good/service that can reasonably meet the Department’s needs: Based on extensive review of alternative nursing home facilities, we have confirmed that, while these entities provide quality medical care, they do not possess the degree of psychiatric expertise required for Level 3 MHTL designation. Thornton Care Center, LLC stands alone as the only facility capable of delivering adequate Level 3 Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL) services due to its sophisticated and robust staffing infrastructure. Unlike traditional nursing homes, which often prioritize geriatric or general medical care, Thornton has intentionally engineered a clinical ecosystem designed specifically for high-acuity psychiatric support. By integrating a dedicated psychiatric provider directly into the daily care model, alongside additional and necessary therapeutic services, the facility ensures immediate, expert-level diagnostic and medication management that standard long-term care nursing home environments simply cannot and have not been able to replicate.

As noted by the CDHS MHTL Medical Director, moving clients out of their current, established care setting at Thornton Care Center poses a significant risk to the progress they have achieved, as the transition itself acts as a profound disruptor to their clinical stability. Displacement often severs the vital therapeutic alliances and routine-based structures that form the foundation of their current treatment. This upheaval can trigger a rapid decompensation effect, where the stress of a new environment and unfamiliar providers causes a sharp decline in both medical and mental health status. For a population whose recovery is anchored in consistency, the loss of a trusted environment is not just a logistical change - it is a clinical setback that can exacerbate symptoms, lead to acute crises, and undo months of specialized care.

8) Explain why and how you know that only this vendor can provide this good/service: The specialized expertise within the Thornton Care Center, LLC team is further bolstered by a clinical staffing pattern that prioritizes mental health as a primary focus rather than a secondary consideration. While other traditional nursing home facilities may struggle with the complexities of severe and persistent psychiatric presentations, Thornton possesses the specialized training and personnel density required to navigate the nuanced needs of Level 3 clients. This unique combination of on-site psychiatric leadership and a deep bench of clinical experts creates a secure, therapeutic environment that is far superior to a standard nursing facility, making Thornton the only viable choice for those requiring the highest tier of MHTL support.

9) Explain why and how you know that the prices/rates are fair and reasonable: Thornton Care Center, LLC will bill Medicaid for clients residing in the beds, while CDHS will reimburse the contractor an incentive rate to address additional specialized services/care required by CDHS. The rates are fair and reasonable as the general rates published by Medicaid are standard for the State of Colorado, adjust based on fiscal year, and are the most cost efficient. The incentive rate provided to Thornton Care Center, LLC will be to only address the additional needs necessary to ensure clients receive the appropriate treatment required by CDHS.

10) Is there any other information needed to consider this sole source request? No

By completing and submitting this form, you are certifying that you have no conflicts of interest related to this request and that there is only one good/service that can reasonably meet the Department’s needs and this is the only vendor who can provide that good/service.

**If this request is over $100k, procurement will post notification on VSS. No action from the vendor is needed in VSS.

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