Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) - Adult

Ventura County Behavioral Health, a division of the County of Ventura Health Care Agency in California, issued a Request for Proposals on February 20, 2026, to solicit qualified organizations to operate a Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) for adults on a 24/7/365 basis. The CSU will serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries ages 18 and older at 3150 E. Los Angeles Avenue in Simi Valley, California, and will provide immediate therapeutic response and crisis stabilization services for individuals experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms or placed on a Welfare and Institutions Code Section 5150 designation. Key deliverables and services include crisis assessment, psychiatric evaluation, medication services, brief interventions, peer mentoring, care coordination, and discharge planning within 24 hours of admission. The program will initially operate at four-bed capacity with planned expansion to eight beds within the first 12 months of operations. The contract term is three years, with the County providing facility and building-related items through a separate GSA lease agreement while the contractor manages service delivery and operations. Bidders must submit comprehensive rate proposals using both hourly and daily rate structures, embedding all contractor-provided costs including staffing, equipment, supplies, technology, clinical and administrative operations, insurance, and pre-operational activities into ongoing rates with a recommended 3-5% contingency and escalation for Years 2 and 3. Evaluation preferences are given to bidders with existing Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) certification to provide CSU services, though bidders without current certification may be considered if they demonstrate substantial experience providing crisis mental health services in 24/7 settings and experience with DHCS certification for other specialty mental health services. Critical deadlines include bidder questions due by March 6, 2026, proposals due by 5:00 p.m. on March 23, 2026, contractor selection and notification by April 14, 2026, contract finalization by April 26, 2026, Board of Supervisors approval by May 19, 2026, and operations commencement by July 1, 2026.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations eligible to respond, nor does it identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors for this newly established service. There is no information provided regarding existing infrastructure or technology that would require integration by the selected contractor. The County will bill Medi-Cal and other payers directly and will collect all revenue, while the contractor is responsible for eligibility verification and ensuring commercial insurance is billed prior to Medi-Cal when applicable; claims denied due to contractor documentation deficiencies may result in County recoupment of proportional contract payments. The RFP does not specify an award value or budget range, indicating that pricing will be evaluated based on the bidder-submitted rate proposals. Contract award is contingent upon DHCS facility-specific certification approval and County written authorization before service commencement, regardless of any prior certifications the bidder may hold.