Mental Health Services at Wilder Youth Development Center (WYDC) - UPDATED

The State of Tennessee, Department of Children's Services (DCS), Central Procurement Office, has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for mental health services at John S. Wilder Youth Development Center (WYDC) located in Somerville, Fayette County, Tennessee. The procurement seeks qualified mental health professionals to provide comprehensive behavioral health services, including clinical supervision, direct therapeutic interventions, and programmatic oversight at the facility. The required positions include one full-time Licensed Clinical Supervisor, three full-time Mental Health Clinicians, and one part-time Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Responses must address qualifications, clinical approach, crisis intervention capabilities, evidence-based treatment methodologies, staff supervision, documentation requirements, and HIPAA-compliant electronic health record systems. The evaluation process occurs in two phases: Phase I assesses mandatory requirements including proof of current state licensure, master's degree credentials, Statement of Certifications and Assurances, references, bank and credit references, and insurance compliance attestations on a pass/fail basis; Phase II applies a qualitative evaluation model with general qualifications and experience weighted at 25 points maximum and technical qualifications, experience, and approach weighted at 75 points maximum, requiring a minimum threshold score of 70 to advance. Key deadlines include a Notice of Intent to Respond deadline of April 24, 2026, written questions deadline of May 1, 2026, and response submission deadline of May 22, 2026, with technical evaluations completed by May 29, 2026, Notice of Intent to Award released by June 2, 2026, and contract issuance by June 11, 2026. Responses must be submitted in PDF format via email or USB flash drive to Will Harmon at the Central Procurement Office.

The RFQ does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the procurement documentation. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, with no renewal options specified. Compensation is structured as fixed annual rates: the Licensed Clinical Supervisor at $123,000 per year, Mental Health Clinicians at $94,000 per year each, and the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at $48,000 per year. The maximum contract liability for the entire five-year term is $2,265,000, providing qualified respondents with predictable and defined compensation throughout the contract period.