Local Early Steps Programs

The Florida Department of Health (DOH), through its Division of Children's Medical Services, is seeking proposals for the establishment and management of Local Early Steps Programs across 15 regional service areas in Florida. This Request for Proposal (RFP) DOH23-017 aims to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months with developmental disabilities, delays, or at-risk conditions under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C. Providers must establish comprehensive local programs that include service coordinators, child find coordinators, family resource specialists, professional development coordinators, coaches, and data managers. Key deliverables include providing developmental evaluations and interventions in children's natural environments, maintaining a network of community service providers, and implementing early intervention services. The procurement timeline includes a question submission deadline of January 15, 2025, with sealed proposals due by March 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM. The anticipated contract term is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, with potential renewals for up to three additional years. Evaluation criteria will be based on technical and cost proposals, with the DOH intending to select a single provider for each regional service area.

Providers must be enrolled as Florida Medicaid providers prior to service delivery and operate on a "payor of last resort" basis, meaning they must first bill Medicaid, private insurance, and other third-party sources before using program funds. The program classifies service areas as small (less than 1,000 active children monthly), medium (1,001-1,600 children), or large (over 1,600 children), with funding allocations determined annually by the Department and appropriated by the Legislature. For the 2023-2024 fiscal year, regional allocations range from approximately $2.5 million to $9.4 million, with funding comprised of 63.5% General Revenue and 36.5% Federal Grants Trust Funds. Administrative costs are capped at 15% of the total contract amount, with indirect costs limited to 5% within that allocation. The contract will be structured as a fixed-price, fixed-fee arrangement, with funding determined by service area size and legislative appropriations. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents.