Comprehensive Substance Use Primary Prevention Services for Communities, Adults

The Delaware Health and Social Services Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) and Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services (DPBHS) are seeking comprehensive substance use primary prevention services for communities in New Castle County. This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to fund prevention strategies targeting youth, young adults, and adults across various community settings including educational institutions, worksites, and healthcare environments. The primary objectives include preventing substance use initiation, reducing substance abuse progression, and building community-level prevention infrastructure. Proposals must address six SAMHSA prevention strategies: Information Dissemination, Prevention Education, Alternative Activities, Environmental Approaches, Community-Based Process, and Problem Identification and Referral. Bidders must demonstrate expertise in the Strategic Prevention Framework, focus on reducing risk factors, and provide evidence-based interventions. The RFP was released on August 21, 2025, with proposals due on October 20, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST, and a non-mandatory pre-bid meeting scheduled for September 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM EST.

The contract will be funded through the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services (SUPTRS) Block Grant, with a requirement that 20% of funding be directed to primary prevention strategies. The state anticipates making 8-10 awards ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 per site, with a one-year contract term and four optional one-year extensions. While no specific set-aside designations were mentioned, proposals must align with Delaware's Behavioral Health Prevention Strategy and Plan, targeting specific populations with higher risk factors. The funding cannot be used for treatment services, drug testing, or harm reduction strategies. The program specifically targets neighborhoods in Wilmington, Edgemoor/Claymont, New Castle, and Newark areas, with a focus on implementing evidence-based interventions like the Botvin LifeSkills program for middle and high school youth ages 10-17. The ultimate goal is to increase knowledge about substance use consequences and prevent/decrease substance abuse among students by at least 10%, with a target of serving 100 or more students and achieving an 85% program completion rate.