Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Web Based Monitoring and Tracking For Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems

Background.
In 1975, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD Act), created the state Protection and Advocacy (P & A) systems. There are 57 P&A systems - in each of the 50 states, DC, the Caribbean (2), the South Pacific (3), and for Native Americans. P&A systems were created to protect the rights of persons with developmental disabilities at risk for abuse, neglect and rights violations while residing in public or private care and treatment facilities. In 1986, the PAIMI Act extended the DD Act protections to individuals with (severe) mental illness at risk for, or in danger of, abuse, neglect, and civil rights violations while residing in public and private residential care and treatment facilities.

The P&A systems serve more than 3 million people with a variety of services. Primarily, these systems serve people with disabilities and their families by providing Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR); for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI); for Assistive Technology (PAAT); for individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD); and for individuals with disabilities being served by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency through the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Collectively, P&As have become the largest provider of legal services to people with disabilities in the United States.

P&A agencies have the authority to provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under all federal and state laws, to all people with disabilities (based on a system of priorities for services). All P&As maintain a presence in facilities that care for people with disabilities, where they monitor, investigate and attempt to remedy adverse conditions. These agencies also devote considerable resources to ensuring full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlements, healthcare, accessible housing and productive employment opportunities.

There is currently no uniform or centralized manner in which P&A systems monitor and track information on their services. Some still use paper forms, while others use electronic systems. There is no common protocol.

Purpose and Objectives.
The purpose of this project is to establish a single, uniform electronic tracking and monitoring system for the P&A program to improve coordination and streamline tracking and monitoring of information.. This will facilitate the network of P&As to measure and evaluate programmatic outcomes. The ultimate objective is the use of tracking and monitoring to enhance the outcomes and effectiveness of programs and ensure efficient use of funds by the P&A program.

This project will provide P&As with a PAIMI Program Performance Report (PPR) web based tracking and monitoring service. In particular this service would facilitate the tracking and monitoring of investigations into incidents of abuse and neglect and serious injuries & deaths (especially incidents involving the inappropriate use of restraints & seclusion) with regard to individuals with mental illness.

The objectives of the project are to:
•Develop a single, uniform system of tracking and monitoring information collected by the P&A network
•Improve coordination and reduce inefficiency in the P&A network
•Improve outcomes for programs and individuals served by the P&A network

Anticipated period of performance.
The period of performance for this requirement will from date award on or before September 30, 2012 through September 29, 2013.

Other important considerations.
None.

Capability statement /information sought. All interested potential offerors should respond in writing and provide the following information:
a. Staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training
b. Technical approach and capacity to perform the work
c. Prior completed projects of similar nature
d. Corporate experience and management capability
e. 3-5 examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information;

In 1975, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (the DD Act), created the state Protection and Advocacy (P & A) systems. There are 57 P&A systems - in each of the 50 states, DC, the Caribbean (2), the South Pacific (3), and for Native Americans. P&A systems were created to protect the rights of persons with developmental disabilities at risk for abuse, neglect and rights violations while residing in public or private care and treatment facilities. In 1986, the PAIMI Act extended the DD Act protections to individuals with (severe) mental illness at risk for, or in danger of, abuse, neglect, and civil rights violations while residing in public and private residential care and treatment facilities.

The P&A systems serve more than 3 million people with a variety of services. Primarily, these systems serve people with disabilities and their families by providing Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR); for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI); for Assistive Technology (PAAT); for individuals with Developmental Disabilities (PADD); and for individuals with disabilities being served by the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency through the Client Assistance Program (CAP). Collectively, P&As have become the largest provider of legal services to people with disabilities in the United States.

P&A agencies have the authority to provide legal representation and other advocacy services, under all federal and state laws, to all people with disabilities (based on a system of priorities for services). All P&As maintain a presence in facilities that care for people with disabilities, where they monitor, investigate and attempt to remedy adverse conditions. These agencies also devote considerable resources to ensuring full access to inclusive educational programs, financial entitlements, healthcare, accessible housing and productive employment opportunities.

There is currently no uniform or centralized manner in which P&A systems monitor and track information on their services. Some still use paper forms, while others use electronic systems. There is no common protocol.

The Department of Health and Human Service, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), seeks a contractor to (1) develop a single, uniform system of tracking and monitoring information collected by the P&A network. This will facilitate the network of P&A's to measure and evaluate programmatic outcomes. The ultimate objective is the use of tracking and monitoring to enhance the outcomes and effectiveness of programs and ensure efficient use of funds by the P&A.

All interested parties should respond in writing (only) to Darnese M. Wilkerson at darnese.wilkerson@psc.hhs.gov by no later than 5 pm on August 31, 2012. Please respond with a capabilities statement illustrating capacity to perform the work objectives described above.