Casa de Esperanza Residential Services RFP

Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) is issuing a competitive Request for Proposals to select a qualified organization to operate Casa de Esperanza y Suenos, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Social Rehabilitation Facility serving Ventura County adults and Transitional-Age Youth (TAY) ages 18-25 recovering from serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use disorders. The facility comprises four residential units (Casa B, C, D, and E) with 60 total beds, including 15 designated for TAY clients, and must deliver comprehensive day rehabilitation services, specialty mental health services, peer support, medication management, and crisis intervention in a recovery-oriented, person-centered model that promotes psychiatric stability and teaches Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Proposing organizations must demonstrate financial stability, current insurance and bonding capabilities, absence from federal exclusion lists (OIG and SAM.gov), and the ability to maintain minimum staffing ratios of one interdisciplinary professional staff member per ten clients as required by Title 9 California Code of Regulations Section 1840.352. Evaluation criteria include achievement of a 90% minimum occupancy rate, 100% referral response compliance within one business day, completion of 90% of accepted admissions within seven days, clinical outcomes of 70% planned discharges to lower levels of care and 80% post-discharge follow-up within 30 days, and comprehensive implementation of evidence-based practices including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Relapse Prevention, Trauma-Informed Treatment, and Psycho-Education aligned with Federal CLAS standards for cultural competency. The contract term is one year (October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027) with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions, subject to budgetary approval by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. Critical deadlines include May 7, 2026 for bidder questions, May 28, 2026 for proposal submission (5:00 p.m.), July 2, 2026 for contractor selection and notification, July 16, 2026 for contract finalization, and September 1, 2026 for Board of Supervisors approval prior to October 1, 2026 operations initiation.

The RFP documents do not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to disadvantaged enterprises or particular organizational types; however, proposals must include three professional references demonstrating relevant experience in operating similar residential rehabilitation or mental health services, a completed Key Staff Listing identifying key personnel with relevant licenses, certifications, and qualifications, and a signed Non-Collusion Affidavit certifying the proposal's authenticity. The facility is county-owned with Ventura County responsible for physical plant maintenance and utilities; the selected provider must furnish administrative offices, supply computer equipment, and purchase all client food. Compensation is structured on a reimbursement basis through Short-Doyle/Medi-Cal funding composed of Federal Financial Participation (FFP) funds and Local Matching Funds (County Resources), with invoicing submitted monthly in arrears based on units of service entered into the County's Electronic Health Record System using current procedural terminology (CPT) or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes and Net 45-day payment terms. The RFP does not specify a maximum contract value or guaranteed compensation; actual payment is contingent upon services actually rendered with no rollover of unspent appropriations to subsequent years. Proposers must submit a detailed budget template documenting staffing and operational costs across the three-year potential contract period, identify all significant expenses with supporting documentation, and comply with comprehensive federal and state requirements including 42 CFR managed care provisions, Medicaid credentialing standards, HIPAA privacy and security requirements, and detailed quality assurance and equity reporting obligations disaggregated by race/ethnicity, language, and disability status submitted quarterly and annually to VCBH.