PROPOSED CONTRACT DMH AND EMPATH - TO PUBLISH.pdf

This is a sole-source procurement notice from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health (DMH) for the development of three emergency psychiatric units operating under the EMPATH model. The procurement establishes a non-competitive contracting process based on the vendor's specialized expertise and unique qualifications in EMPATH model implementation. The scope of work encompasses design, development, and implementation of three specialized emergency psychiatric facilities to provide acute psychiatric care and crisis intervention services under DMH operational oversight. The notice was posted on June 5, 2026, with responses due by June 26, 2026. The project represents a significant infrastructure investment in emergency mental health service delivery capacity within Mississippi.

The sole-source determination waives competitive bidding requirements, streamlining the procurement process while ensuring alignment with the state's specific mental health service delivery objectives and the vendor's demonstrated expertise in EMPATH model operations. Funding for the project derives from state appropriations or federal mental health grants designated specifically for emergency psychiatric services infrastructure development. The EMPATH model has been identified by DMH as requiring vendor-specific expertise unavailable through traditional competitive procurement methods, justifying the sole-source award approach and establishing the legal and procedural basis for non-competitive vendor selection.