RFI Person-Centered Transportation.pdf

PERSON CENTERED TRANSPORTATION

Introduction:

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) is issuing a Request for Information about implementing new Person-Centered Transportation programs for Trust beneficiaries and people who need accessible transportation.

The Trust has met with several stakeholders and would like additional feedback from a broader audience on how to best fill the gaps in transportation services or eliminate transportation barriers for the above groups.

Some concepts discussed by the group include shifting from vans to Uber/Lyft/rideshare, paying mileage reimbursement, offering grants for vehicle modification for public use, escort stipends, going beyond door-to-door to chair-to-chair service, personal transportation grants, volunteer ride programs/apps, reducing barriers for individual driver independence (snow removal, vehicle modification, etc.). There is interest in information about how to implement these types of projects as well as projects not listed.

Background Information:

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (Trust) is a state corporation that administers the Alaska Mental Health Trust, a perpetual trust, to improve the lives of beneficiaries. The Trust operates much like a private foundation, using its resources to ensure that Alaska has a comprehensive integrated mental health program.

While the Trust is a state agency, it is completely self-funded and uses no state general fund dollars.

The trust was created by congress before statehood. The state breached its trust duty by mismanaging the land. The settlement of the resulting mental health trust land lawsuit in 1994 created a Trust Authority consisting of seven trustees. The trust was reconstituted with $200 million and approximately one million acres of land. The Trust Authority contracts with the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation to manage the cash assets and the Trust Land Office in to manage the land and other non-cash assets.

Today it is the duty of the Trust to provide leadership in the advocacy, planning, implementing, and funding of services and programs for Trust beneficiaries.

Trust beneficiaries include Alaskans who experience:

• Mental illness;

• Intellectual and development disabilities;

• Substance use disorders;

• Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia; or

• Traumatic brain injury.

Transportation services are critical for Trust beneficiaries to maintain employment, relationships, services, and recreation in their communities. Trust beneficiaries and people who need accessible transportation face transportation barriers. Prior conversations with stakeholders have identified a need to change how

Request for Information

Date Issued: 3/14/25 %DATE% transportation services are delivered, considering new ways to access, purchase, and offer transportation services in addition to what is already available.

Response Information:

Interested stakeholders/agencies/firms with pilot project ideas should indicate their interest by submitting a written response, limited to two pages in length, with the following information:

• Your name/company name

• Phone number and email for notification of future opportunities, if solicited.

• A summary that clearly describes the proposed pilot transportation program, new type of payment system, access improvement, or other component that would improve transportation services for Trust beneficiaries and people who need accessible transportation.

• Populations and geographic area served by the project.

• Likelihood of the pilot project’s ability to be funded by public transportation, Medicaid or other insurance.

• Your capabilities and experience related to providing the services, or the necessary capabilities and experience needed to provide the services if you are a non-provider.

• An estimated cost of the proposed pilot project, not to exceed one year.

Responses are due by 5:00 P.M. prevailing Alaska time on April 14, 2025. Responses may be sent by mail or email to the Procurement Officer contact information listed below.

Procurement Officer contact information:

All questions must be directed to the person listed below in writing via email.

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Valette Keller, Procurement Officer 3745 Community Park Loop, Suite 200 Anchorage, AK 99508 valette.keller@alaska.gov 907-269-6039

It is the responsibility of the interested party to follow up with the procurement officer shown above to ensure that response was received prior to the time and date specified at the top of this RFI.

Assistance to Offerors with a Disability:

Offerors with a disability needing accommodation should contact the procurement officer prior to April 1, 2025, so that reasonable accommodation can be made.

Important Notice:

This Request for Information (RFI) does not constitute a formal solicitation. Its purpose is to identify new ways of offering transportation services to fill gaps and eliminate barriers in the current system. The State will use this information to potentially develop a future solicitation.

The Trust is not responsible for any costs associated with the preparation of responses. The issuance of the RFI provides no guarantee that the Trust will proceed with a formal solicitation. However, the information obtained from this request may be used to prepare a purchase, contract, or solicitation in the future.

mailto:valette.keller@alaska.gov