RFQ 94864-271 Mental Health Services FINAL.pdf

PDF 367 KB Posted Jul 14, 2026

Attached to: Mental Health Services
Solicitation number: BPM057947
Issued by: Wicomico County, Maryland

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Written by GovTribe AI · Sep 11, 2026

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #94864-271 is issued by Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) in Maryland to identify licensed mental health agencies capable of providing individual school-based mental health therapy services during the 2026-2027 school year. The RFQ seeks agencies with experience, qualified staff, proper licensure, and operational capacity to deliver therapy services to existing clients of the agency who attend WCPS schools. Services are limited to individual mental health therapy provided during the school day in coordination with school administration, with group therapy and Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PRP) prohibited. WCPS does not refer students to agencies, assign students to providers, or permit agencies to recruit or solicit students or families while on school property. The RFQ submission window opens July 12, 2026, and closes at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on August 12, 2026. Submissions must be made electronically through the Bonfire portal. The term of the contract extends through the 2026-2027 school year, with services limited to the WCPS academic calendar. No renewal options or future year funding is specified in this RFQ.

Agencies must submit qualifications including cover letters, organizational profiles, descriptions of school-based therapy experience, staffing models, clinician resumes with Maryland licensure credentials, three professional references, specialized certifications and language capabilities, and current Certificates of Insurance. Selected agencies will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WCPS subject to completion of district onboarding requirements. All therapists must be licensed mental health professionals authorized to practice in Maryland and must clear criminal background screening as required by Maryland law. Agencies must maintain professional liability insurance, comply with HIPAA and FERPA regulations, and submit quarterly aggregate reports including number of students served, therapist names and numbers, schools served, and primary presenting concerns. Evaluation criteria weight experience at thirty percent, clinician qualifications at twenty-five percent, organizational capacity at twenty percent, collaboration ability at fifteen percent, and references at ten percent. No specific pricing or funding amounts are referenced in the RFQ. Questions must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. (EST) five business days prior to the submission deadline, with all answers provided via addendum at least three business days before the deadline.

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Purchasing Office

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) #94864-271

School-Based Mental Health Therapy Services

A. Introduction

Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) is seeking qualifications from licensed mental health agencies interested in providing individual school-based mental health therapy services to their existing clients while those students are attending school during the 2026–2027 school year.

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to identify agencies with experience, staffing, licensure, and operational capacity to provide individual mental health therapy services within WCPS schools while collaborating with school personnel and families to minimize disruptions to the student's educational day.

WCPS does not contract with agencies to provide therapy services directly to students. Agencies approved through this RFQ may provide services only to students who are already established clients of their agency and who attend a WCPS school.

WCPS does not make referrals to outside agencies, assign students to providers, or permit agencies to recruit or solicit students or families for services while on school property.

B. Scope of Services

The selected agencies will be expected to provide the following services:

1. Individual School-Based Therapy Services

Agencies may provide:

• Individual mental health therapy to students who are currently enrolled as clients of the agency. Group therapy and PRP is prohibited.

• Therapy services during the school day in coordination with school administration and or point of contact for each school.

• Individualized treatment planning in accordance with agency policies and professional standards.

• Clinical documentation in compliance with HIPAA and all applicable federal and state regulations.

• Communication with parents/guardians regarding treatment as appropriate.

Services provided within WCPS schools are limited to students who are already receiving services through the agency. Agencies shall not use school facilities to recruit, solicit, or enroll new clients.

2. Staffing Requirements

Agencies must:

• Employ licensed mental health professionals authorized to practice in the

State of Maryland.

• Ensure all clinicians receive appropriate clinical supervision.

• Provide documentation verifying that all therapists assigned to Wicomico

County Public Schools have successfully completed and cleared the required criminal background screening in accordance with Maryland law. Effective July 1, 2019, Maryland law requires contractors to screen all applicants for positions involving direct contact with minors, as defined in Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.

• Ensure clinicians comply with all WCPS visitor procedures, safety protocols, and school expectations while on school property.

3. Coordination with Schools

• Coordinate scheduling and building access through the designated school

Point of Contact.

• Work collaboratively with school staff to minimize disruption to the instructional day.

• Follow all WCPS visitor procedures, safety protocols, and confidentiality expectations while providing services.

4. Professional Standards and Compliance

• Maintain all required Maryland licenses and certifications.

• Maintain professional liability insurance and provide a current Certificate of

Insurance.

• Comply with HIPAA, FERPA, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Ensure all services are delivered in accordance with professional ethical standards.

5. Reporting Requirements

Agencies must provide quarterly aggregate information requested by WCPS, including:

• Number of WCPS students served

• Names and number of therapists providing services within WCPS.

• Schools where services were provided.

• Primary presenting concerns for students receiving services (ex. Anxiety, depression, grief, behavioral concerns, bullying).

• Any data required for the annual Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Community-Partnered School Behavioral Health Services Program Survey

Reports shall not include personally identifiable student information unless otherwise permitted by law.

Quarterly Reporting Schedule

Quarterly reports are required and must be submitted within two (2) weeks following the end of each reporting period.

Reporting Period Report Due Date September 1, 2026 – November 5, 2026 November 19, 2026 November 6, 2026 – February 4, 2027 February 18, 2027

February 5, 2027 – April 14, 2027 April 28, 2027 April 15, 2027 – June 21, 2027 July 5, 2027

Failure to submit required reports in a timely manner or to comply with the reporting requirements outlined in this RFQ and the resulting Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) may result in corrective action, suspension of services, or termination of the agreement at the discretion of Wicomico County Public Schools.

School-based therapy services authorized under the MOU may only be provided during the WCPS school year. Services shall not be provided on WCPS property after the conclusion of the school year.

C. Submission Requirements

Agencies must submit:

• Cover Letter

• Agency profile and organizational history.

• Description of experience providing school-based individual mental health therapy.

• Staffing model and clinical supervision plan.

• Resumes or curriculum vitae (CVs) for all therapists who may provide services within Wicomico County Public Schools, including their current Maryland licensure and credentials.

• Three professional references from school districts or comparable organizations outside of WCPS. See Attachment A.

• A list of any specialized certifications, clinical expertise, and languages spoken by therapists, including the availability of bilingual or multilingual clinicians.

• Current Certificate of Insurance.

D. Evaluation Criteria

Submissions will be evaluated based on:

Evaluation Criteria Weight Experience providing school-based mental health services 30%

Qualifications of licensed clinical staff 25% Organizational capacity and staffing model 20% Ability to collaborate within school settings 15% References and demonstrated performance 10%

E. RFQ Submission Deadline

The RFQ proposal window for agencies seeking approval to provide school-based mental health therapy services for the 2026–2027 school year will open on July 12, 2026, and close at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on August 7, 2026.

Completed qualification packets must be submitted electronically to:

https://wicomicoschools.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities

Proposers must register on the portal to get access to the RFQ and submit.

RFQ Proposals received after 2:00 p.m. (EST) on August 12, 2026, will not be considered for the 2026–2027 application cycle.

F. Contact Information

For questions regarding this RFQ, please contact:

purchasing@mywcps.org and cc: rkonrad@mywcps.org

The deadline for questions is 4:00 PM (EST) five (5) business days prior to the submission deadline.

All questions will be answered via addendum at least three (3) business days prior to the submission deadline.

All questions must be made to the above emails in writing only. No phone calls please.

G. Future Opportunities https://wicomicoschools.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities mailto:purchasing@mywcps.org mailto:rkonrad@mywcps.org

The RFQ proposal window for agencies seeking approval to provide school-based mental health therapy services for the 2026–2027 school year will close at 2:00 p.m. (EST) on August 12, 2026.

Submissions received after this deadline will not be considered for participation during the 2026–2027 school year.

Agencies that do not apply during the established window, or whose submissions are received after the deadline, are encouraged to apply during the next annual cycle.

Wicomico County Public Schools anticipates opening the RFQ window annually during the summer for the upcoming school year.

H. Approval Through the RFQ Process

Approval through this RFQ authorizes an agency to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Wicomico County Public Schools, subject to completion of all district onboarding requirements.

Agencies may provide services only to students who are already established clients of the agency and whose parent or guardian has requested that therapy occur during the school day. WCPS does not refer students to agencies, assign students to providers, or permit agencies to recruit or solicit students or families while on school property.