Service to Science

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Behavioral Health, is conducting a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP-2027-DBH-01-SERVI) to procure consultation, technical assistance, and evaluation support services for substance misuse prevention programs statewide. The selected contractor will support community-based programs in becoming New Hampshire-endorsed, research-informed Service to Science programs consistent with SAMHSA process guidelines, with primary deliverables including providing administrative and technical assistance to the Governor's Commission on Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention; coordinating and facilitating the New Hampshire Expert Panel; supporting applicants through three Service to Science designation levels (Level I "Innovative," Level II "Promising Practice," and Level III "Research-Based"); and identifying, selecting, and supporting a minimum of three programs annually for NH endorsement. Key qualifications required include demonstrated experience providing consultation and technical assistance to substance misuse prevention organizations, knowledge of SAMHSA's Service to Science process, familiarity with the Governor's Commission on Addiction, Treatment, and Prevention and its taskforces, and capability to establish research-informed workgroups. The RFP establishes evaluation criteria allocating a maximum 1,000 points across technical responses (700 points for ability/work plan, experience/knowledge, and capacity/staffing) and cost proposals (300 points for budget narrative and vendor cost), with vendors required to achieve a minimum 400 points in preliminary technical scoring to have cost proposals opened. Critical deadlines include a Letter of Intent due March 9, 2026, vendor questions due March 9, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, and solicitation responses due April 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM Eastern Time. The contract will be effective upon Governor and Executive Council approval and run through June 30, 2028, with the Department holding the option to extend services for up to two additional years.

The RFP documents do not indicate any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations, suggesting this is an open competitive procurement. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The contract does not specify integration with existing infrastructure or technology systems beyond the Department's standard requirements regarding information security, HIPAA compliance, state privacy laws, and data transition obligations. The total anticipated funding for the resulting contract is $500,000, divided equally as $250,000 in State Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) and $250,000 in State Fiscal Year 2028 (July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028), with the Department noting this is not a low-cost award and that cost proposals will be evaluated using a formula based on the lowest proposed cost. Any portion of funding supported with non-federal funding may be subject to an indirect rate cap of 15% or the vendor's Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), whichever is lower. Contractors selected must register with the New Hampshire Department of State, the Department of Administrative Services, and the Department of Justice Charitable Trust Unit if applicable, and maintain commercial general liability insurance of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate.