RFQ-WT27-0001: Behavioral Health Workforce Landscape Analysis

West Texas A&M University's Division of Finance Procurement Services issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ-WT27-0001) for a Behavioral Health Workforce Landscape Analysis to support the College of Nursing & Health Sciences and the Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative across the 26-county Texas Panhandle region. The procurement seeks a qualified consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive workforce analysis examining supply and demand, educational pipeline alignment, and the strategic impact of a new Texas State Hospital in Amarillo, with deliverables including documented stakeholder engagement plans, thematic analysis of stakeholder input, regional supervision capacity mapping by discipline and geography, quantitative estimates of supervision gaps, and final workforce recommendations. Key project objectives include vacancy rate assessments, education and training pipeline review, clinical supervision capacity evaluation across behavioral health disciplines, and place-based stakeholder engagement incorporating in-person interaction with providers, hospitals, community clinics, mental health authorities, educational institutions, workforce boards, and individuals with lived experience. Minimum qualifications require demonstrated experience conducting workforce analyses within the past five years, capacity to perform labor market and demographic analysis, experience in rural or geographically dispersed regions, familiarity with complex interdisciplinary workforce systems, and ability to deliver within a 3-5-month timeline. Evaluation criteria weighted the responses on workforce and systems understanding (20 points), workforce gap analysis and methodology (20 points), state hospital and regional capacity alignment (10 points), alignment with state and regional priorities (15 points), methodology and feasibility (15 points), experience and qualifications (10 points), and cost effectiveness (10 points). The pre-proposal conference was held February 17, 2026, with questions due by February 19, 2026, answers posted February 21, 2026, and proposals due by 3:00 p.m. Central Time on February 27, 2026, with an expected award date of March 4, 2026 and a performance period of 3-5 months ending approximately August 31, 2026.

The RFQ documents do not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. Required submittals included execution of offer, non-collusion affidavit, felony conviction notification, insurance requirements with current certificates of insurance, data protection questionnaire, references, conflict of interest questionnaire, resident/non-resident bidder certification, lobbying certification, criminal background search agreement, and W-9 form; notably, performance and payment bonds were not required as this is not a public works project, and background searches and fingerprinting apply only if employees would have direct contact with students. The contract award was made to Advocates for Human Potential following a competitive evaluation process, though evaluation documents indicate that contract negotiations with the initially highest-ranked respondent were unsuccessful on pricing, resulting in the award to an alternative respondent determined to provide the best overall value. The RFQ specified no specific dollar amount for the contract, which will be funded from state funds and paid monthly for completed services within thirty days of receipt of a correct invoice and applicable department approval. The contract is a single award with no renewal options and a performance period anticipated to run through August 31, 2026.