QRTP Independent Assessment

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking a contractor to conduct independent assessments of Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP) through RFP No. 250000002171. The primary objective is to evaluate children placed in or considered for residential treatment programs using the Michigan-specific Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (MichiCANS) assessment tool. Successful bidders must provide comprehensive assessments, including initial assessments, utilization reviews, reassessments, and confirmation assessments for children with open foster care, juvenile justice, adoption, or guardianship cases. Contractor staff must possess bachelor's or master's degrees in human services fields and be certified in the MichiCANS tool, with ongoing training requirements. The assessment process involves thoroughly reviewing case records, interviewing children and caregivers, consulting with the child's permanency team, and developing recommendations for appropriate placement and treatment. Proposals are due by 1:59 p.m. Eastern on May 19, 2025, with an anticipated contract start date of December 1, 2025, for an initial three-year term with potential for two one-year renewals.

The RFP explicitly disqualifies current Child Care Institution (CCI) contractors from bidding to ensure assessment independence. The pricing structure is unit-based, with anticipated annual volumes of 840 independent assessments, 840 utilization reviews, 12 reassessments, and 12 confirmation assessments. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the total contract value will be determined by the unit rates proposed by the winning bidder. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned in the provided documents. The state will provide IT policies and standards upon request and will continue using the existing CANS version developed for the Michigan QRTP program. Service level agreements include performance metrics for staff credentials and reporting, with potential financial credits for non-compliance. Onsite evaluations are not mandatory, providing flexibility in the assessment methodology.