3371-27-R-RFIN-00005

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health is requesting proposals for a statewide behavioral health telehealth and crisis support program serving Mississippi veterans and first responders, with proposals due October 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. This is a single fixed-price contract award funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS). All funding is contingent on continued availability of federal RHTP funds; the contract may be terminated or reduced if federal funding is withdrawn.

Vendors must meet minimum qualifications: at least five years of continuous teletherapy operation; current or prior contracts with at least two state government agencies; a credentialed clinician network of licensed mental health professionals in Mississippi; demonstrated operational scale including a functioning 24/7 crisis line; current SOC 2 Type II certification or equivalent security attestation; financial stability documentation; Mississippi Secretary of State registration; and absence of federal or state debarment.

The scope covers comprehensive behavioral health services across all 82 Mississippi counties targeting approximately 200,000 eligible individuals. Required services include teletherapy (up to 10 sessions per participant with additional clinically-indicated sessions), a 24/7 direct crisis support line staffed by licensed clinicians, on-demand wellness programming, and an integrated platform accessible via web and mobile applications (secure video, telephone, live chat, asynchronous messaging). The program must eliminate barriers through no-cost participation, no insurance requirements, no referrals, and no paperwork obstacles.

Pricing must be submitted as an all-inclusive fixed annual price with no separate implementation, per-session, per-user, marketing, or overage fees. Outreach and marketing, including a dedicated co-branded website, may not exceed ten percent of Year 1 fixed price; proposals exceeding this threshold are non-responsive. The initial contract term is twelve months, with pricing provided for renewal years and expansion to additional populations.

The successful vendor must achieve program go-live no later than 60 calendar days after contract execution, anticipated for December 1, 2026, subject to Mississippi Public Procurement Review Board approval. Evaluation criteria: quality of care and clinical approach (25 points), provider network depth (15 points), platform usability and technology (15 points), experience and past performance (15 points), outreach and awareness plan (10 points), data reporting and security (10 points), and cost value (10 points).