RFQ Bridgwater State Hospital Implementation Plan

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health is soliciting quotes from management consultants to conduct a comprehensive investigation and develop an implementation plan for transferring oversight of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction, with quotes due November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. under RFQ BD-27-1022-DMH08-8210C-134282 on COMMBUYS. The amended RFQ supersedes the earlier version's October 28, 2026 deadline. Preference goes to teams experienced in supporting state agencies in large-scale healthcare governance transitions.

The consultant must demonstrate expertise in behavioral health systems, forensic mental health, psychiatric hospitals, correctional health care, healthcare finance, workforce planning, strategic planning, project management, and stakeholder facilitation. Forensic psychiatric expertise with Massachusetts system experience is required. Any engineering contractor or subcontractor performing physical plant assessments requires DMH approval. Deliverables include a work plan, governance plan, stakeholder engagement summary, clinical services and operations assessment, environment of care assessment, physical plant engineering report, legal and regulatory analysis, transition implementation plan, tactical roadmap, fiscal impact analysis, and resident impact analysis. The roadmap must achieve a December 31, 2028 transfer without new facility construction. The consultant works with DMH leadership and an interagency taskforce from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, DOC, and Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. The contractor is responsible for Phase 4 deliverables but not Phase 5.

The engagement runs five phases over approximately seven months. The estimated contract start is November 16, 2026, and successful bidder notification is estimated for November 9, 2026. A final draft is due by the end of April 2027, with vetting continuing through June 29, 2027, and final deliverables for legislative submission due no later than June 10, 2027.

Responses are limited to ten narrative pages plus appendices, with the cover sheet excluded from the page limit. Submissions must include detailed budgets and justifications with hourly rates for the project manager and other staff or consultants. Evaluation criteria include demonstrated understanding of requested services, prior project experience, expertise in similar projects, supplier diversity plan commitment, ability to deliver within the stated timeframe, reasonableness of the proposed campaign and costs relative to RFQ requirements, and additional insights or services that enhance performance capability.