DHS/1115 Reentry Demonstraton Waiver

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Administration is requesting proposals for a contractor to provide working group facilitation, project management, and implementation support for Minnesota's 1115 Reentry Demonstration Waiver, with proposals due October 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. CDT. Targeted group, economically disadvantaged, and veteran-owned small businesses certified by the state receive a 12% preference.

The contractor will facilitate monthly hybrid meetings of the Reentry Services Working Group (approximately 20–25 participants), issue $55 stipend payments to approximately eight eligible working group members per meeting, conduct minimum four project management meetings per month with the BHA core team, and maintain a document repository on a designated SharePoint site. The working group addresses reentry services for individuals transitioning from correctional facilities under Minnesota Statute section 256B.0761, subd. 7. Coordination spans the Department of Corrections, counties, Tribal Nations, managed care organizations, and community-based providers.

The contract runs January 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, with potential extension to a total of five years. The anticipated contract start date is February 1, 2027. The estimated annual budget is $100,000 to $200,000. Working group facilitation will be invoiced as a flat deliverable-based fee per monthly meeting; project management services will be paid at hourly rates with a total not-to-exceed amount. The specific payment schedule will be negotiated with the successful responder.

Preferred qualifications include experience with complex statewide initiatives, stakeholder facilitation, policy development, Medicaid and 1115 Demonstration Waivers, correctional systems, and behavioral health services. Experience with CMS and 1115 Demonstration Waivers is preferred but not required. Professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $2,000,000 per claim and $2,000,000 annual aggregate is mandatory. Responses must include Policy Driven Adoption for Accessibility (PDAA) worksheets and Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates (VPAT) demonstrating compliance with Minnesota State Accessibility Standards and WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Cost proposals will be scored proportionally, with the lowest-cost proposal receiving the full 300 available points. Technical proposals are evaluated on a 1,000-point scale plus preference points. CMS approval of the waiver was received September 23, 2026. The anticipated selection date is November 30, 2026. Management Analysis and Development currently facilitates the working group and will transition this responsibility. Questions were due September 23, 2026.