FY26; RFA Colorado Prevail Program

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Administration is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA IBEH 2026000182) for the FY26 Colorado PREVAIL (Pre-Arrest Evaluation, Intervention, and Linkage) Program, a statewide criminal justice diversion initiative serving Denver County and Denver City jurisdictions. This procurement seeks qualified organizations to deliver voluntary, community-based pre-arrest diversion services for adults and youth ages 13 and older whose low-level offenses are driven by unmet behavioral health or substance use needs. Primary deliverables include establishment of Policy Workgroups and Community Workgroups within 90 days of contract execution, draft policies and procedures, monthly case review summaries, quarterly training attendance records, critical incident reports within three days of occurrence, and annual participant outcome reports submitted to the BHA-designated database system. Key program objectives require achieving minimum annual referral targets of 100 participants, a 30 percent reduction in crime severity among enrolled participants, 70 percent achievement of participant-identified harm reduction goals, 15 percent diversion referral rates from law enforcement, and 60 percent enrollment rates among referred individuals. Contractors must deliver intensive case management, wraparound services, and individualized intervention plans while maintaining appropriate behavioral health service licensure, substance use disorder treatment licensure, and HIPAA compliance; direct service staff must hold relevant professional licenses such as Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Substance Use Disorder Counselor certifications. Applications are due April 7, 2026, at 3:00 PM Mountain Standard Time, with questions due by March 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM MST and responses posted by March 20, 2026. Evaluation criteria address mandatory applicant eligibility and legal authority, program model fidelity, capacity to serve youth and transitioned-aged adults, operational capacity, community partnerships, staffing and training capacity, sustainability, data management capabilities, and integration of FAIR principles (Fairness, Access, Impact, Relationships).

Eligible applicants are restricted to Colorado governmental agencies including counties, municipalities, and law enforcement departments, or nonprofit organizations that have executed partnership agreements or memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement or judicial entities; all applicants must demonstrate legal authorization to operate within Colorado and compliance with applicable federal and state behavioral health regulations through submission of Exhibit G mandatory requirements certification. There is no identified incumbent vendor or current contractor for this new program initiative. Applicants must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and with the Colorado Secretary of State before contract execution, and must utilize BHA-approved data systems including CiviCore and GAIN for case management and assessment functions. The maximum annual award is $475,000 for single applicants and $650,000 for joint partnership applications, with funding provided on a cost reimbursement basis for actual expenses incurred during the fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. Allowable budget categories include personnel costs with specified salary ranges (Program Administrator $76,000–$92,000, Supervisor $60,000–$80,000, Data staff $60,000–$80,000, Case Managers $54,000–$64,000), temporary services and housing stabilization, direct service costs, specialized training, contingency management incentives, and client costs, with applicants able to apply federally negotiated indirect cost rates or the 15 percent de minimis rate. The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with potential renewal for four additional one-year periods contingent upon appropriations and satisfactory performance.