Solicitation+Amendment+1.docx

STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

NORTHEAST BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC

151 S 4th ST

GRAND FORKS, ND 58201

SOLICITATION AMENDMENT 1

September 5, 2025

Solicitation Number: 325-25-940-059 Title: Crisis Drop-In and Stabilization Unit Deadline for Receipt of Proposals: September 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM CT Solicitation Issued: August 14, 2025

A. This solicitation is amended as follows:

1. Section 1.03 RFP Schedule is deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

2. Section 2.04 Prior Experience has been deleted in its entirety.

3. Section 3.14 Business Associate Agreement has been added to the RFP as follows with Attachment E attached alongside this Solicitation Amendment 1:

3.14 Business Associate Agreement

A successful offeror is a "business associate" of STATE and must comply with all of the requirements for a business associate under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and the regulations issued pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health. Successful offeror shall sign a Business Associate Agreement (Attachment E) with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, and provide assurance that it has similar agreements with any subcontractor providing services on behalf of successful offeror in connection with any services provided to successful offeror by a subcontractor related to a contract resulting from this RFP.

An offeror may state any objections or propose changes or additions to the Business Associate Agreement. Describe the changes to the Business Associate Agreement being proposed or provide a red-line of STATE’s Business Associate Agreement. Offerors are not to submit their own contract or standard terms and conditions with their proposals. Offerors should address the specific language in the attached Business Associate Agreement and submit any proposed changes with an offeror’s proposal.

4. Section 4.02 Introduction, 2nd paragraph, has been deleted in its entirety.

B. Section 1.03 RFP Schedule established a Deadline for Submission of Questions and Objections: The responses, including any necessary amendments, are as follows:

Question related to Section 1.01 Purpose of the RFP:

1. Question: Section 1.01: states “State” is requesting proposals for an entity to establish and operate no more than a 15 bed sub-acute Crisis Drop-In Stabilization Unit for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder In Grand Forks, ND” Since the direct care minimum staff to client ratio is one to five with a minimum of two staff.

a. Does the state anticipate the need for services to regularly exceed 10 clients?

Response: No, STATE does not anticipate the need for services to regularly exceed 10 clients.

Amendment: The Purpose of RFP on the cover page of the RFP shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

Purpose of RFP: To procure an entity to establish and operate a 10 bed sub-acute Crisis Drop-In Stabilization Unit for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Section 1.01 Purpose of the RFP shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

The state of North Dakota, acting through its North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Northeast Behavioral Health Clinic (STATE) is requesting proposals for an entity to establish and operate a 10 bed sub-acute Crisis Drop-In Stabilization Unit for individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorder in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Section 2.02 Scope of Work, General Requirements, item 5, shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

5. Successful offeror’s daily bed capacity shall be for 10 individuals served.

Offeror Response:

Questions related to Section 2.02 Scope of Work:

2. Question: Page 12, item 12, letter c: Is a nightstand a requirement? We operate the existing program and were directed to remove them from the sleeping rooms.

Response: No, a nightstand will not be required.

Amendment: Section 2.02 Scope of Work, General Requirements, item 12, letter c, of the RFP shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced as follows:

c. Bedroom to include, at minimum, bed with sheets and pillow, and, where appropriate, a dresser.

Offeror Response:

3. Question: Page 13, item 13, IV,b: Can the state provide an estimated cost per month to purchase the FDA approved tobacco treatment medications for this program?

Response: STATE has paid the amounts listed below, however, costs may vary depending on source and quantity purchased:

2mg gum, 110 pack - $23.73 4 mg gum, 100 pack - $34.48 7 mg, 14 mg, & 21 mg patch, 14 pack - $39.70 2 mg lozenge, 72 pack - $32.25 4 mg lozenge, 81 pack - $38.63 No amendment necessary.

4. Question: Page 17, Experience & Qualifications, item 2: Can letters of reference come from ND State Behavioral Health personnel?

Response: No, letters of reference cannot come from North Dakota State Behavioral Health personnel as this is a conflict of interest.

No amendment necessary.

Question related to Section 2.04 Prior Experience:

5. Question: Page 18, Section 2.04 Prior Experience states, An offeror must have a minimum of five years’ experience providing mobile on-call crisis services to adults, children, and families in crisis. Offeror shall also identify its crisis workers, including the licensed mental health professional, which includes, at a minimum, a bachelor’s degree and 2,000 hours of supervised experience in the implementation of mental health treatment plans, crisis de-escalation, and behavior intervention.

a. Can you elaborate on what would constitute mobile on-call Crisis Services? Historically, while contracting with the STATE to provide these services, the STATE provides the Mobil On-Call Crisis Services and licensed mental health professionals.

Response: The RFP has been amended, please see A.2. and A.4. above.

No amendment necessary.

b. Is it a requirement that the offeror employs a licensed mental health professional?

Response: The RFP has been amended, please see A.2. and A.4. above.

No amendment necessary.

Question related to Section 2.05 Required Licenses:

6. Question: Page 18, section 2.05 Required Licenses. Are there specific licenses required for an offeror to provide these services?

Response: An offeror must have and keep current the professional license for its Registered Nurse(s) for in-person coverage.

No amendment necessary.

Question related to Attachment C, Cost Proposal:

7. Question: Attachment C, Cost Proposal. Does the offeror need to propose one flat rate and one rate for nursing for the entire 18-month contract term?

Response: An offeror shall provide a flat monthly projection that includes regional staffing patterns based on the current regional market to substantiate the requested amount. The monthly projection is for the overall operation of the Crisis Drop-In Stabilization Unit, which shall include all anticipated costs associated with staffing, facility operations, and service delivery. The offeror shall also provide the hourly rate for nursing services provided Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

Both the flat monthly projection and the hourly rate for services shall be fixed for the entire contract term of January 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

No amendment necessary.

Bidders are instructed to acknowledge receipt of and compliance with this Solicitation Amendment by signing below and returning the Solicitation Amendment Acknowledgement page with your solicitation response.

Questions regarding this amendment must be submitted in writing to the Procurement Officer.

Angela Olson Procurement Officer E-mail: anjolson@nd.gov Telephone: 701-795-3131 TTY Users call: 7-1-1

SOLICITATION AMENDMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Solicitation Number: 325-25-940-059 Title: Crisis Drop-In and Stabilization Unit Solicitation Amendment Number: 1

By my signature below, I hereby acknowledge receipt of and compliance with this amendment.

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