RFR-document.docx

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE

Feasibility study of a Behavioral Health College Partnership RFR # 2024DHE-01 / COMMBUYS Bid# 90528

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

One Ashburton Place, Suite 1401, Boston, MA 02108

Request for Response (RFR)

Document Title: Feasibility study of a Behavioral Health College Partnership

COMMBUYS Bid#: Bid BD-22-1088-RGT01-RGT01-7063

Agency Document Number: 2024DHE-01

July 10, 2023

ISSUE DATE:

1. Description or Purpose of Procurement:

The Department of Higher Education (DHE) and its partners are interested in exploring a Massachusetts based partnership for evidence-based evaluation and treatment of students experiencing psychiatric crises; and in exploring the feasibility of creating a shared inpatient evaluation, admission, and treatment program, as well as outpatient programs to aid students in their recovery and successful transition back to college.

DHE is seeking a feasibility study of a Behavioral Health College Partnership that would include:

1) A shared Inpatient Program exclusive to college students

2) A shared Intensive Outpatient Program

2. Applicable Procurement Law

Executive Branch Goods and Services

3. Acquisition Method:

4. Whether Single or Multiple Contractors are Required for Contract:

Check One (“X”):

a. Estimated Number of Awards The target maximum number of Contractors is one (1); the Purchasing Department may award more or fewer contracts, if it is in the best interests of the Commonwealth to do so.

b. Adding Contractors after initial Contract Award If, over the life of the contract, the Purchasing Department determines that additional Contractors may be added, these may be drawn from qualified companies which responded to this Solicitation but were not awarded Contracts. If necessary to meet the requirements of the Commonwealth, the Solicitation may be reopened to obtain additional Bids.

5. Entities Eligible to Use the Resulting Contract

The Purchasing Department reserves the right to add or remove additional authorized users during the contract term.

6. Expected Duration of Contract (Initial Duration and any Options to Renew):

Initial Duration

Six (6) months The Initial contract duration will run from the Contract Effective/Start Date 08/01/2023 through 01/30/2024.

Renewal Options

One (1)

One Six (6) months With one (1) option to renew for six months. Renewal Dates: From: February 1,2024 to June 30,2024.

Total Maximum Contract Duration

One (1) year Total anticipated duration for this contract is up to one (1) year. Ending on July 1, 2024. Initial Number of Years/Months for the Initial Term Plus All Renewal Periods.

7. Anticipated Expenditures, Funding or Compensation:

Estimated Value of Procurement: $150,000.

8. Contract Performance and Business Specifications:

Scope of Services:

Scope of Work

SUMMARY

DHE is seeking a feasibility study of a Behavioral Health College Partnership that would include:

1) A shared Inpatient Program exclusive to college students

2) A shared Intensive Outpatient Program

There is a proof of concept for both models, as evidenced by the Northwell Health Behavioral College Partnership, a proven inpatient program, and The Haven at College and TCU’s On-Campus Intensive Outpatient Programs, two on-campus outpatient programs for behavioral health. This RFP is seeking a financial and operational feasibility study of establishing shared programs in our region (specifically Greater Boston, Springfield & Worcester). This includes an assessment of need in the region, an assessment of services expected or desired by potential partners, the physical, communication, and/or transport infrastructure or services required to support the programs, and the workforce needs for the programs.

Specific questions include, but are not limited to:

CCCs

· What services do college counselors believe we need to support our students to be successful and stay in college?

· Understanding the number of colleges and universities in MA, and the approximate number of college students, what would be the number of cases with high acuity that require psychiatric evaluation at any one time (provide average estimates with low points and high points noted throughout the year)?

· Given the number of college students we serve in Massachusetts, what would be the number of cases that may require inpatient treatment?

· What would be the number of cases that require outpatient treatment?

FACILITIES

· What type of space/facilities are needed to accommodate the possible number of college students whose acuity level requires inpatient treatment at any given time?

· What types of space/facilities are needed to accommodate the possible number of college students who require outpatient treatment?

STAFFING

· How many trained psychiatric evaluators do we need statewide to provide an evaluation of students requiring psychiatric evaluation?

· What would the management profile and organizational chart look like for an inpatient facility?

· What would the management profile and organizational chart look like for an outpatient facility?

· What staffing structure would be needed for a single inpatient facility to accommodate the anticipated highest number of college students?

· What staffing would be needed year-round?

· What staffing would be required for the academic year only (August through May)?

· Does the MA community have the workforce to accommodate the required staffing structure of one inpatient facility? Two? Three?

GEOGRAPHY

· What is the ideal geographic region that can be accommodated by one facility? (i.e., no more than a 30 minute drive, a 1 hour drive, a 2 hour drive)

· Considering the geographic location of the colleges in Massachusetts, how many inpatient and outpatient facilities would make sense?

· Where would a potential facility location (or locations) be? City? Town? Freestanding building? Hospital?

· How would student transportation from campus to the hospital or facility work, and what would transportation from the facility back to campus look like?

FINANCIALS

· Please provide a pro forma budget to demonstrate operating costs, including staff.

· Please estimate profit, loss, and cash flow for both an inpatient and an outpatient behavioral health college partnership.

INSURANCE

· Do the major insurance companies cover in-patient and outpatient behavioral/mental health services? If not, what are the typical limitations?

LIABILITY

· Please identify any major liability concerns that could limit participation.

9. Small Business Purchasing Program.

This is a Small Procurement targeted to verified small businesses participating in the Commonwealth's Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP). The Department intends to award a contract to one or more SBPP-participating businesses verified through COMMBUYS who submits a quote that meets or exceeds the best value requirements. Subcontracting in SBPP procurements is limited to no more than 20% of the total value of the contract, unless it is with another verified SBPP participant. If it is determined that there is inadequate SBPP capacity, or no SBPP-participating vendors provide a responsive quote, the Department may award the solicitation to vendors who submitted responses and are not participating in the SBPP. To determine eligibility and to participate in the SBPP, please review the eligibility criteria and general program information at www.mass.gov/sbpp.

10. Environmentally Preferable Products Products and services purchased by state agencies must be in compliance with Executive Order 515, issued October 27, 2009. Under this Executive Order, Executive Departments are required to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services (EPPs) whenever such products and services perform to satisfactory standards and represent best value, consistent with 801 CMR 21.00. In line with this directive, all Contracts, whether departmental or statewide, must comply with the specifications and guidelines established by OSD and the EPP Program. EPPs are considered to be products and services that help to conserve natural resources, reduce waste, protect public health and the environment, and promote the use of clean technologies, recycled materials, and less toxic products. Bid responses must identify how a contractor meets these goals.

11. Evaluation Criteria Contractors must submit responses that meet all the submission requirements of the RFR. Only responsive proposals that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated, scored and ranked by the evaluation team according to the evaluation criteria. Additional information may be requested for evaluation purposes.

12. Instructions for Submission of Responses:

Only electronic quotes submitted via COMMBUYS will be accepted in response to this RFR. Responses must be sent via the “Create Quote” functionality contained in COMMBUYS. For instructions concerning how to submit a Quote, please see Appendix B.

Any submission which fails to meet the submission requirements of the RFR will be found non-responsive without further evaluation unless the evaluation team, at its discretion, determines that the non-compliance is insubstantial and can be corrected. In these cases, the evaluation team may allow the vendor to make minor corrections to the submission.

13. Estimated Procurement Calendar

Bidders are required to monitor COMMBUYS for changes to the procurement calendar for this Bid.

d. Estimated Contract Start Date

DHE anticipates the approximate start date to be August 1,2023. The actual start date will be the Contract Effective Date which is the date the Contract is executed by the parties.

14. Required Forms Responses to this RFR must contain the following documents

The above attachments are available as part of the Bid record on COMMBUYS (WWW.COMMBUYS.COM).

15. RFR Attachments Appendix A: Required Specifications http://www.mass.gov/anf/budget-taxes-and-procurement/oversight-agencies/osd/osd-forms.html] Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions [http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/osd/forms/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids.docx] Appendix B: Electronic Quote Submission Instructions https://www.mass.gov/doc/instructions-for-vendors-responding-to-bids

Effective June 15, 2021, for all 1) CTR forms, including the Standard Contract Form, W-9s, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) forms, ISAs, and other CTR-issued documents and forms, or 2) documents related to state finance and within the statutory area of authority or control of CTR (i.e. contracts, payrolls, and related supporting documentation), CTR will accept signatures executed by an authorized signatory in any of the following ways: 1. Traditional “wet signature” (ink on paper); 2. Electronic signature that is either: a. Hand drawn using a mouse or finger if working from a touch screen device; or Page 2 b. An uploaded picture of the signatory’s hand drawn signature 3. Electronic signatures affixed using a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign. If using an electronic signature, the signature must be visible, include the signatory’s name and title, and must be accompanied by a signature date. Please be advised that typed text of a name not generated by a digital tool such as Adobe Sign or DocuSign, even in computer-generated cursive script, or an electronic symbol, are not acceptable forms of electronic signature.

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