Request for Proposal 016-24-1 - OCVTC Peer Support Specialist SAMHSA

Orange County, North Carolina is seeking a Certified Peer Support Specialist through Request for Proposal (RFP) 016-24-1, which is funded by a SAMHSA grant for a Veterans Treatment Court program. The procurement is for a full-time position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week or 2,080 hours annually, with a contract term from May 1, 2024, through September 29, 2028. The ideal candidate must be a veteran and hold certification as a Peer Support Specialist from the North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Program, with certification training potentially covered by the grant. Key responsibilities include providing individualized services in the community, promoting self-determination for clients, and offering expertise to the treatment team while drawing upon personal life experiences related to mental health, substance abuse, treatment, and recovery. The selected specialist will be responsible for working with enrolled veterans, ensuring access to health services, addressing social determinants like employment and housing, connecting participants to community services, and maintaining statistical data for federal reporting. Proposals are due by January 21, 2025, and must include an itemized list of services, proposed hourly rate, and total cost. Evaluation criteria will encompass proposal completeness, candidate qualifications and experience, proposed fees, references, and acceptance of contract terms.

The RFP appears to be specifically targeted to veteran peer support specialists, with no explicit mention of set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The position requires a unique combination of personal experience and professional certification, which may limit the pool of potential respondents. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract is entirely funded through a federal SAMHSA grant as part of the 2023 Onslow County Veterans Treatment Court Expansion project. The specialist will be expected to work alongside volunteer veteran mentors and integrate into an existing treatment court infrastructure. Although the specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the requirement of 2,080 annual hours suggests a full-time salary-equivalent compensation structure. The opportunity provides flexibility for certification training and emphasizes the importance of lived experience in mental health and substance abuse recovery, indicating a holistic approach to veteran support services.