School-based mental health services

Barrow County School District (BCSS) in Georgia is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposals (RFP) for school-based mental health services to support students in grades 6-12. The procurement seeks qualified local mental health providers and agencies to deliver comprehensive mental health services including individual and group counseling, crisis support, and risk assessments utilizing evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices. Key deliverables and objectives include providing direct counseling services across multiple schools within the district, implementing evidence-based interventions, conducting comprehensive risk assessments, and maintaining collaboration with families and community partners. Required qualifications for vendors include holding appropriate mental health licensure and credentials in Georgia, demonstrating experience serving children and adolescents in school or community settings, maintaining adequate staffing with qualified professionals, carrying appropriate insurance coverage, and submitting to background checks as required by the district. Evaluation criteria encompass vendor qualifications, ability to meet district needs and serve multiple schools, availability and organizational capacity, cost effectiveness, and references and demonstrated experience. Proposals must be submitted by September 30, 2025, at 12:00 PM via email to caron.hope@barrow.k12.ga.us with "SBMHS2026" referenced in the subject line, with the contract term extending through June 30, 2026, subject to renewal based on funding availability.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations, including disadvantaged enterprises, suggesting the procurement is open to all qualified mental health providers meeting the stated requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The district reserves the right to award the entire contract to a single provider or to divide the award among multiple providers as deemed necessary, and makes no guarantees regarding the number or percentage of students to be served. Specific funding amounts and pricing terms are not detailed in the RFP; vendors are required to provide clear, detailed cost and pricing structures in their proposals for evaluation purposes. Interested providers should submit comprehensive proposals that include company history, organizational structure, three references, staff resumes with relevant qualifications and certifications, copies of active licenses, staffing plans identifying available professional staff by role, a collaboration plan with families and community partners, and evaluation and reporting samples.