Questions and Answers Set #1 for RFP 5969 final.pdf

THE STATE OF OREGON

OREGON HEALTH AUTHORITY

Questions & Answers, Set #1 for Request for Proposals (RFP) 5969:

ALCOHOL/OVERDOSE STRATEGIC PREVENTION FRAMEWORK-

PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUCCESS

(OregonBuys # S-44300-00010622)

Date of Issue: August 1, 2024 Opening Date and Time (Proposal Due Date):

September 5, 2024 at 3:00 PM (Pacific Time)

Single Point of Contact (SPC): John F. Gardner

Address: 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 640

City, State, Zip Portland, OR 97232

Phone (voice) 503-509-5698

E-mail: john.f.gardner@odhsoha.oregon.gov

The following questions were received regarding RFP 5969 and Agency responds as follows.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Section number references in this document are to Sections of

RFP 5969 (OregonBuys Bid Number S-44300-00010622). As used in RFP 5969 and in this document, “Agency” and “OHA” refer to the State of Oregon, acting by and through the Oregon

Health Authority, Public Health Division, Center for Prevention and Health Promotion.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

1. 1.1 Introduction (Page 4) On page 4, Section 1.1 Introduction Summary, “OHA…are seeking multiple organizations to collaborate with CP&HP” and later, “work with OHA.”

What does “collaboration” and “work with” entail? Are there specific activities, time requirements, travel involved, etc.?

Agency Response to above question:

Contractors will be required to consult with OHA-CP&HP program and evaluation liaisons in developing their project work plan and evaluation approach to assure alignment with SAMHSA’s

Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) methodology and data collection requirements.

Contractors will also be required to submit regularly scheduled reports to OHA. In addition, OHA-

CP&HP will provide support to contractors in accessing other available training and technical assistance resources as needed.

mailto:john.f.gardner@odhsoha.oregon.gov

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 2 of 7 Framework – Partnerships for Success (OregonBuys # S-44300-00010622)

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

2. 1.1 Introduction (Page 4) In the Summary, the first two paragraphs seem to be competing. Is there a proportion of time that is required to focus on “local, community led coalition building efforts” and a proportion of time required to focus on “provide services to advance Oregon’s long-term vision of a comprehensive, coordinated statewide substance use and behavioral health system”?

Agency Response to above question:

There is no specific “proportion of time” that the Contractor will be required to devote to the different focus areas. However, the focus areas cited in this question, are not in conflict but are mutually reinforcing: Contractors’ implementation of the SPF-PFS framework will support local, community led coalition building efforts to prevent and reduce substance use, and implement proven substance use prevention interventions and programming, helping to advance improvements in the substance use prevention system statewide. Conversely, Contractors’ local efforts will contribute to Oregon’s overall efforts to improve Oregon’s substance use and behavioral health system.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

3. 2.4.1 Task #1: Complete SPF-PFS Local

Community Health Needs Assessment

(CHNA) (Page 9)

Our county is part of a regional community health needs assessment and CHIP process. We are actively involved stakeholders and contributors to the community health needs assessment, but did not conduct this assessment.

Does our work in a local community health needs assessment satisfy requirements for Task #1 (page 9, 2.4.2.1)?

Agency Response to above question:

OHA may determine that Contractors who receive Contract awards from this RFP may use a prior completed local CHNA to help satisfy the requirement of completing a Community Health Needs

Assessment (CHNA) if OHA determine the previous CHNA meets the following requirements listed in Section 2.4.2.1:

• Use local, state, and national data to identify Priority populations in the

Designated service area who are experiencing the highest inequitable impacts of alcohol, opioid overdose, polysubstance use, and related harms to be served by the project.

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 3 of 7

• Conduct assessment and readiness activities to better understand community needs, gaps, assets, readiness, and opportunities for improvement related to substance use prevention.

• Summarize and report findings from the CHNA to inform interventions and share with community members and partners.

However, even if OHA determines that a prior completed local CHNA meets the above requirements, the Contracts may still require the Contractor(s) to conduct additional needs assessment work to supplement any substance use related gaps identified in the prior CHNA.

As stated in Section 2.4.2.1, Contractors may conduct optional tasks related to the CHNAs including “Consulting other CHNAs conducted in the Designated service area to inform the

SPF-PFS needs assessment, including CHNAs conducted by local public health authorities

(LPHA), local community mental health programs (CMHP), Coordinated Care Organizations

(CCO), United Way, or other relevant organizations in the Designated service area.”

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

4. 2.4.2.2 Task #2: Develop SPF -PFS

Community Health Improvement Plan

(CHIP) (Page 9)

Our county is part of a regional community health needs assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and we are active leaders in selection of prevention interventions as part of the CHIP. Does our work in our local CHIP satisfy requirements for Task #2?

OHA may determine that Contractors who receive Contract awards from this RFP may use a prior completed local CHIP to help satisfy the requirement of completing a CHIP, if OHA determines the prior completed CHIP meets the requirements listed in Section 2.4.2.2:

• Identify priority goals, strategies, and interventions for implementation of the

CHIP over the 4-year grant period.

• Develop an initial work plan describing Year 1 activities and how they will advance the overall SPF-PFS CHIP over the 4-year grant period.

However, even if OHA determines that a prior completed CHIP meets the above-mentioned requirements, the awarded Contracts may still require the Contractor(s) to conduct CHIP work to supplement any gaps identified in the prior CHIP.

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 4 of 7

5. 2.4.1 Task #1: Complete SPF-PFS Local

Community Health Needs Assessment

(CHNA) (Page 9)

If a community health needs assessment (CHNA) has recently been conducted (2023-2024), must the Contractor conduct a separate assessment?

Agency Response to above question:

See response to Question #3 above

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

6. 2.4.2.2 Task #2: Develop SPF -PFS

Community Health Improvement Plan

(CHIP) (Pages 9 and 10)

If a recently conducted community health needs assessment did not prioritize specific polysubstance use prevention interventions as part of the CHIP, does the CHIP still meet requirements for Task #2 (page 9 and 10, 2.4.2.2)? Or would we need to conduct an additional assessment?

Agency Response to above question:

The Substance Use Addiction and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), the federal funding source for this RFP, requires that SPF-PFS funding be used specifically to prevent and reduce substance use through the implementation of community informed, effective, proven substance use interventions.

A Contractor receiving a Contract award from this RFP can use a recently conducted CHNA and

CHIP to inform the Contractor’s work for this project even if the CHIP does not outline specific goals, strategies or activities related to substance use prevention. However, the Contract must include a description of the type of interventions the Contractor will implement during the project period and how the CHNA informed the Contractor’s selection of interventions.

Contractors may also conduct additional needs assessment activities to supplement an existing

CHNA or CHIP to help assess and prioritize any substance use related needs in their communities.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

7. 2.4.1 Task #1: Complete SPF-PFS Local

Community Health Needs Assessment

(CHNA) (Page 9)

Is the SPF-PFS Local Alcohol, Opioid Overdose, and Polysubstance Use Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), reference in Task 1, a specific tool, set of tools, or specific methods required by OHA?

The SPF-PFS Local Alcohol, Opioid Overdose, and Polysubstance Use Community Health Needs

Assessment (CHNA), is a complete needs assessment, not a single tool or method. As noted in

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 5 of 7

Section 2.2 on page 7 of the RFP, grantees can learn more about SAMHSA’s SPF model and related tools at https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/20190620-samhsa-strategic-prevention-framework-guide.pdf.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

8. Section 2.4.2.3 Task #3: Implement the Contractor’s alcohol, opioid overdose, and polysubstance use prevention interventions identified in approved Community Health

Improvement Plan (CHIP) (Page 10).

Are there any parameters for the “alcohol, opioid overdose, and polysubstance use prevention interventions” for Task #3?

Is this Task inclusive of primary prevention interventions, such as using community/organizational change strategies to prevent ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), improve positive parenting practices, and establish trauma-informed schools?

Agency Response to above question:

The Substance Use Addiction and Mental Health Authority (SAMSHA), the federal funding source for this RFP, requires that SPF-PFS funding be used to prevent and reduce substance use through the implementation of community informed, effective, proven substance use interventions.

Prevention science shows that community/organizational changes strategies such as preventing

ACEs, improving positive parenting practices, and establishing trauma-informed schools to change school climate, can contribute to the prevention and reduction of substance use and related harms at the population level.

As noted in 2.4.2.2 (Task #2), Contractors may provide “optional information” in performing that Task:

“Optional information to provide:

• Define how proposed interventions align with the six U.S. Substance Use

Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance

Abuse Prevention (CSAP) categories covering:

▪ Information Dissemination

▪ Education

▪ Problem identification and referral

▪ Alternative social settings

▪ Environmental and policy strategies

▪ Community based processes“

More information about SAMHSA’s CSAP strategies can be found at https://theathenaforum.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/csap_strategies.pdf.

https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/20190620-samhsa-strategic-prevention-framework-guide.pdf https://theathenaforum.org/sites/default/files/public/documents/csap_strategies.pdf

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 6 of 7

9. Sections 2.4.2.1 – 2.4.2.4 (Pages 9-11) In Section 2.4 Scope of Work, for Tasks 1- 4 in subsections 2.4.2.1, 2.4.2.2, 2.4.2.3 and 2.4.2.4, is there an existing technology that OHA prefers or has established for Contractors to use or are the Contractors expected to propose their own technology solutions?

Agency Response to above question:

If referring to the use of electronic technology and related platforms, Contractors are welcome to propose the use of technology in creating and implementing solutions. OHA does not have a specific technology requirement for Contractors, only that Contractors need to be able to communicate via virtual meeting with OHA and submit reports electronically.

If the term “technology” is referring to the interventions chosen to implement the project, then the technology must align with SAMHSA’s SPF model as described at https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/20190620-samhsa-strategic-prevention-framework-guide.pdf

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

10. Section 5.4.1 Negotiation (Page 26) Will OHA accept redlines to the language in Section 8 Ownership of Work Product, starting on page 16 in Exhibit B, Standard Terms and Conditions?

Agency Response to above question:

Please review Section 5.4.1 Negotiation which explains the process for submitting exceptions to the form of the Sample Contract (Attachment A).

In summary, if no exceptions have been submitted to the Sample Contract during the Questions /

Requests for Clarification period set forth in Section 1.2 Schedule, OHA may agree to negotiate changes to the negotiable provisions of the Sample Contract following the selection of the apparent successful Proposer, as described in Section 5.4.1. However, OHA is not required to make any changes to the Sample Contract and many provisions cannot be changed. Proposer is cautioned that the State of Oregon believes modifications to the standard provisions constitute increased risk and increased cost to the State. Any negotiated changes are subject to prior approval of the

Oregon Department of Justice.

Questions & Answers Set #1 re: RFP 5969:Alcohol / Overdose Strategic Prevention Page 7 of 7

11. Section 1.1 Introduction (Page 4) and

Section 3.2.5 Price Proposal (Page 15)

How many awards does OHA expect to make? We are trying to estimate the maximum amount of funding per award.

Agency Response to above question:

Although a specific number of awards is not known at this time, OHA anticipates that total number of awards to be less than 6 given the amount of available annual funding for the overall project.

Therefore, the maximum not-to-exceed compensation amount for each Contract cannot be specified at this time and will be determined during the Contract award and negotiation phases.

In preparing their Price Proposals, Proposers must follow the instructions in Section 3.2.5 Price

Proposal and in Attachment D and use their best estimate of resources needed to fully and effectively implement the project.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

12. General question re: eligible Proposers Eligibility: are there any exclusions to the type of organizations that can submit a proposal? We just want to confirm that local governments are eligible to submit.

Agency Response to above question:

There are no exclusions regarding the type of organizations that can submit Proposals for the RFP, and eligible Proposers include but are not limited to:Local, County, City, and municipal governments; Federally Designated Tribes; universities and other higher education institutions;

faith institutions; and 501C3 non-profit organizations.

Question # RFP Section (Page #) Question

13. Section 1.2 Schedule (Page 5) Period of performance: When does OHA expect for the initial Contract term to start?

Agency Response to above question:

OHA anticipates fully executing Contracts as early as October 1, 2024, and no later than the

December 31, 2024.