Community Engagement and Outreach to BIPOC at-risk of an Opioid Overdose

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP23002316) seeking qualified not-for-profit organizations to provide community engagement and outreach services targeting Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities at risk of opioid overdose. Specifically, the RFP aims to fund organizations that can provide outreach, education, and linkage to services for undocumented, immigrant, and refugee populations who use opioids or are at risk of overdose. The primary deliverables include implementing community engagement activities, conducting targeted outreach, and connecting at-risk populations to appropriate services and support. Evaluation criteria will assess vendors on technical merit, cost proposals, and Identified Small Business Enterprise (ISBE) participation rates. The RFP was released on January 25, 2023, with proposals due by February 23, 2023 at 12:00 PM EST. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference was scheduled for February 1, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST via Zoom, and vendor questions were accepted from January 25 through February 10, 2023. The initial contract period will begin approximately April 1, 2023 for up to two years, with potential renewal options for up to three additional 12-month periods.

The RFP is exclusively open to not-for-profit organizations, with a strong emphasis on ISBE participation, including Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Disability Business Enterprises (DisBEs). Vendors must submit separate technical, cost, and ISBE participation proposals through the Ocean State Procures system. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including $1 million in general liability coverage, workers compensation, automobile liability, $2 million in professional liability, and $5 million in cyber/privacy coverage. RIDOH will fund up to four proposals using Opioid Settlement funding, though the exact total contract value is not specified in the documentation. Vendors will receive evaluation points based on their proposed ISBE utilization rates, with higher rates potentially receiving more points. The state reserves the right to award contracts based on cost, technical merit, and ISBE participation, and may cancel the solicitation at its discretion. All proposing organizations must be registered in the Ocean State Procures system and complete various vendor certification questionnaires and attestation forms.