Qualified residential treatment program

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (SCDSS) is procuring Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) services for children in foster care with serious emotional or behavioral disorders requiring specialized residential treatment. The procurement seeks licensed, accredited group care facilities capable of providing trauma-informed, family-centered residential services designed to facilitate family reunification and permanency. Providers must demonstrate compliance with state regulations, employ an approved trauma treatment model, maintain 24/7 access to licensed clinical and nursing staff, and coordinate discharge and after-care services. Key deliverables include comprehensive clinical assessments, individualized treatment planning, family engagement, and therapeutic interventions aligned with evidence-based trauma models. Prospective bidders must submit proposals online at http://www.procurement.sc.gov by August 9, 2023, at 2:00 PM ET, with a non-mandatory pre-bid conference scheduled virtually on July 12, 2023, at 11:00 AM ET. Questions from potential bidders were required to be submitted by July 14, 2023, at 5:00 PM ET, and award notifications are expected to be posted on September 6, 2023, with a contract term from September 16, 2023, through September 15, 2028.

Providers must be licensed congregate care facilities accredited by recognized bodies such as The Joint Commission or Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities, with facilities limited to 16 beds or fewer to comply with regulatory requirements. The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The maximum daily reimbursement rate is fixed at $350 per day, which includes foster care maintenance costs ($232.00), administrative costs ($41.46), and state general fund compensation ($41.54). Title IV-E Medicaid reimbursement is available for eligible children, providing additional funding potential. Providers must meet extensive qualifications, including employing staff with appropriate educational backgrounds, conducting mandatory background checks, and maintaining annual staff training of at least 15 hours per caregiver. The contract includes automatic annual renewal provisions unless the state elects not to renew at least thirty days prior to expiration, offering potential long-term engagement for successful bidders. The comprehensive requirements ensure that only highly qualified organizations capable of delivering specialized, trauma-informed residential treatment services will be considered for contract award.