Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Services

Muskegon County is seeking qualified contractors to provide Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Services through a Request for Proposal (RFP) targeting both jail and community settings. The procurement aims to establish one or more five-year agreements for delivering "Thinking Matters!" group sessions, with comprehensive service requirements for cognitive behavioral group classes. For jail-based services, the county projects 100 participants annually, allowing up to two 2-hour sessions per week, while community-based services anticipate 200 participants with up to six 2-hour sessions weekly. Each group will be limited to 12 participants, and the services will be available 50 weeks per year. The evaluation criteria will focus on fee schedule, service location accessibility, group session availability, administrative capabilities, and prior experience with the Thinking Matters curriculum. The proposal deadline is October 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM, with electronic submissions required through the Bidnet system. Potential bidders can submit proposals for jail services, community services, or both, with the county reserving the right to award to a single vendor or multiple contractors based on the most advantageous proposal.

Currently, Catholic Charities provides community sessions at $185 per session, and Kelly Austin delivers jail sessions at $225 per session. There are no explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types mentioned in the documentation. Successful contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including worker's compensation, commercial general liability, automobile liability, and professional liability insurance, with Muskegon County named as an additional insured. The Thinking Matters Facilitator Manual indicates the program is designed for participants with at least a fifth-grade reading comprehension and can be used as a standalone intervention for low-risk individuals or as an introductory program for higher-risk participants. Virtual sessions will only be considered under extraordinary circumstances such as pandemics or facilitator illness. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the current per-session pricing and projected annual participant numbers suggest a potential contract value that would be significant for a five-year agreement. Contractors must be prepared to implement a structured cognitive behavioral intervention approach focused on helping offenders recognize and modify thinking patterns that contribute to problematic behaviors.