Certified community behavioral health clinics

The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to gather market intelligence regarding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) for Kent and Sussex counties. The procurement seeks providers capable of implementing comprehensive behavioral health services across nine core service areas, including outpatient mental health and substance use services, crisis behavioral health services, screening and assessment, treatment planning, primary care screening, case management, psychiatric rehabilitation, peer support, and intensive community-based mental health care for veterans. Respondents must provide detailed information about their organizational experience, expertise, capacity, program design, implementation approach, and proposed budget. The RFI, identified as HSS-26-018, requires vendors to submit a Vendor Information Package (VIP) that includes a cover letter, service descriptions, qualifications, and evidence of successful CCBHC operations. Submissions are due by November 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST, with the ultimate goal of improving behavioral health service outcomes for Delaware residents.

The RFI is open to a broad range of potential providers, including current DSAMH vendors, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), existing behavioral health providers in Delaware, and out-of-state providers interested in expansion. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documents. The State of Delaware was awarded CCBHC Planning Grants in 2023 and 2025 to better understand local providers and population needs, suggesting potential future funding opportunities. While no specific award value or budget range was detailed, the procurement aims to incrementally build provider capacity to meet SAMHSA CCBHC criteria, initially focusing on outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services. The responses will help Delaware determine potential CCBHC providers and understand the potential provider landscape under a potential Demonstration grant. Importantly, this RFI is an information-gathering exercise and will not result in an immediate contract award, but may lead to a future Request for Proposal (RFP) for establishing CCBHC services.