Religious Services Master Agreement RFR

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) is seeking to establish a Master Agreement for Religious Services across the state, with a specific focus on Berkshire County, to provide diverse spiritual support for DMH clients. The procurement will create a pool of qualified, accredited clergy members from various faith traditions to deliver on-demand religious services including worship ceremonies, memorial services, funerals, burials, and spiritual counseling. Qualified providers must be officially ordained, trained in spiritual counseling, and capable of addressing spiritual issues across denominational boundaries. Providers will be evaluated based on their professional credentials, ability to demonstrate cultural competency, and capacity to provide spiritually inclusive services. The solicitation will accept applications on a rolling basis through June 1, 2035, with the first review period closing on June 18, 2025, and anticipated first Master Agreement Awards during the week of June 25, 2025. The initial contract period will span up to 5 years, with potential for one 5-year renewal, and an expected contract start date of July 1, 2025. Bidders must submit a comprehensive application package including a resume, curriculum vitae, official faith group endorsement, and professional credentials, with pricing to be submitted on a per-hour basis for various service times.

The procurement is subject to the Small Business Purchasing Program (SBPP), with a preference for Massachusetts-based small businesses meeting specific eligibility criteria, such as having fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees and gross revenues under $15 million. The Commonwealth emphasizes supplier diversity, requiring bidders to commit to spending at least 1% of contract sales with diverse business enterprises, including minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and other certified diverse businesses. DMH anticipates spending up to $100,000 annually for these religious services, and the contract will be structured as a rate contract without a maximum obligation amount. Providers will be reimbursed on an hourly or daily rate basis, with rates remaining unchanged during the initial contract period and potential reasonable cost-of-living increases thereafter. Payment will be processed through electronic funds transfers, with providers required to submit monthly invoices by the 10th day of the following month. The evaluation will allocate at least 25% of available points to the Supplier Diversity Plan submission, underscoring the Commonwealth's commitment to promoting diverse business partnerships and inclusive procurement practices.