RHTP Crisis Transportation Services

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services is requesting proposals for coordinated crisis transportation services across all 105 Kansas counties under a statewide Rural Health Transportation Program initiative, with proposals due September 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. CST.

The scope requires 24/7/365 transportation services for individuals experiencing mental health and substance abuse crises, delivered through centralized dispatch and staffed by personnel trained in de-escalation and trauma-informed care. Services must be accessible through 988 crisis lines, community mental health centers, hospitals, law enforcement, courts, and other KDADS-authorized entities. The contractor must maintain response times of 60 minutes in rural areas and 90 minutes in frontier areas. Vehicles must include GPS tracking and safety features designed for behavioral health transport. Service categories include mental health crisis transport, substance use disorder crisis transport, competency evaluation transport, and competency restoration transport across five population-density classifications: Frontier (less than 6.0 persons per square mile), Rural (6.0–19.9 ppsm), Densely-settled Rural (20.0–39.9 ppsm), Semi-Urban (40.0–149.9 ppsm), and Urban (150 or more ppsm).

The initial contract term runs from award through September 30, 2029, with two optional one-year extensions. Implementation must be completed within six months of contract award, with a detailed workplan and staffing plan due within 30 days of contract start. The contractor bears all operational costs—staffing, vehicles, dispatch systems, insurance, and training—and must maintain commercial auto liability insurance between $1 million and $5 million based on capacity.

Evaluation includes bidder qualifications, experience, methodology, compliance with RFP terms, and understanding of project scope; cost is one factor among several. Vendors may claim Disabled Veteran Owned Business or Certified Business preferences if applicable. Written questions are due September 8, 2026. All bidders must register with the State of Kansas, obtain a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Kansas Department of Revenue, and submit technical and cost proposals separately. Performance monitoring includes monthly reporting on KPIs, operational metrics, transport outcomes, and incident reports; serious incidents must be reported within one hour.