RFP for Court-Based Mental Health Navigator

The New York State Office of Mental Health is seeking a Court-Based Mental Health Navigator for Warren and Washington Counties through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Warren County Purchasing Department. The procurement aims to develop a comprehensive navigator program supporting justice-involved individuals with mental health needs, with proposals due on August 14, 2025, at 3:00 PM. The selected navigator will be responsible for conducting initial screenings, connecting individuals to mental health services, developing resource guides, facilitating stakeholder communication, and providing court process information. Qualified candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or a related behavioral health field, with a minimum of one year of professional experience in mental health, criminal justice, or substance abuse. The navigator will work closely with courts, criminal justice professionals, and service providers to assist defendants with serious mental illness who are charged with felonies or misdemeanors and are either in the community pending case outcomes or recently released from jail. The contract term is one year, with potential for two additional one-year extensions, and the program is designed to coordinate voluntary care and support health, wellness, and recovery.

The RFP does not include any specific service-disabled veteran-owned set-aside provisions, and there are no total Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) participation goals established for this opportunity. The contract is funded through the New York State Office of Community Services with an annual funding amount of $101,338, providing resources for the navigator program throughout Warren County. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the procurement documents. The county reserves the right to award the contract to the most qualified proposer, suggesting a competitive selection process based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and proposed approach to supporting justice-involved individuals with mental health needs. The procurement appears to be open to various professional service providers with the requisite background in behavioral health, criminal justice, and social services. The total potential contract value could reach approximately $304,014 if all three potential years are executed, representing a significant investment in mental health navigation services for the community.