RFA - Technical Assistance for Interoperability Program for Behavioral Health Providers

The Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration (MDH-BHA) is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA BPM047489/BHA 24-041) to procure technical assistance for an Interoperability Program targeting behavioral health providers' Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems. The primary objectives include adopting, implementing, upgrading, and optimizing EHR systems, providing user education services, and connecting providers to CRISP, Maryland's Health Information Exchange. The technical assistance will cover three program tracks: 1) Adopting and implementing a new EHR, 2) Implementing and upgrading an existing EHR, and 3) Upgrading/optimizing an existing EHR. Key deliverables include assessing provider readiness, assisting with system selection and implementation, supporting CRISP connectivity, and delivering comprehensive training. Evaluation criteria will prioritize mandatory requirements, program development approach, organizational capacity working with behavioral health providers, and proposed work plan feasibility. The RFA was posted on December 13, 2024, with applications due by December 16, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST, and the performance period will run from January 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025.

Applicants must be specific types of organizations, including social organizations as defined in Maryland Code, local/state government agencies, public colleges, or state universities. Non-governmental applicants are required to be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, explicitly excluding 501(c)(6) organizations from eligibility. Minority Business Enterprises are encouraged to participate in this solicitation. The funding available for this RFA is up to $500,000, subject to available appropriations and state budget funding, with the potential for multiple awards to be made if necessary to fulfill the program requirements. Participating organizations must commit to reporting at least one quality metric in the final report and submitting monthly program reports tracking milestone progress. The solicitation follows a previous canceled procurement (BHA 24-033), and no work was performed under that initial RFA. All submissions must be made through eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA), and the agency has maintained its original submission deadline to preserve the projected project start date.