30-26118R-EIPD_BISS_Sourcing Event

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), is requesting proposals for comprehensive brain injury support services (BISS) on a per-consumer, milestone-based model with proposals due September 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET via the Ariba Sourcing Tool. The State intends to award multiple contracts to achieve near-statewide coverage and plans to negotiate standardized rates through a Best and Final Offer process.

Eligible vendors must be non-profit or for-profit organizations with at least three years of experience providing comparable services, current accreditation from CARF, COA, or CQL, and staff holding master's degrees in Rehabilitation Counseling or related fields with the Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) credential. These qualifications are decision-filters for participation.

The scope spans outcome-based services from consumer assessment through job placement, closure, and extended follow-along support, with a therapeutic cognitive rehabilitation component addressing functional limitations. The RFP structures deliverables in five milestone categories: Assessment with Complete Report, Cognitive Rehabilitation and Career Exploration (Part 1 and Part 2), Employment Placement and Independence, and Successful 90-Day Placement. Vendors must provide per-consumer pricing for each milestone; estimated quantities are 62, 44, 42, 35, and 29 consumers respectively across the contract year.

The estimated total program cost is $2 million through Grant Award Notification H126A250049, funded by Federal grants (78.7% or $1.574 million) and non-governmental sources (21.3% or $426,000). The initial contract term runs March 1, 2027 through October 31, 2027, with options to renew for up to two additional one-year terms. Evaluation criteria include technical approach, vendor qualifications, experience, and pricing. A pre-proposal conference is scheduled for September 9, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET via Zoom. Written questions are due September 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, with State responses provided by September 16, 2026. Contract award is anticipated December 10, 2026.