South Dakota Central Region Prevention Coalition Development (3)

The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health, is soliciting proposals through a competitive negotiation Request for Proposal (RFP) to establish or expand community-based prevention coalitions serving one or more of 24 priority counties: Bennett, Brookings, Brown, Brule, Charles Mix, Corson, Custer, Davison, Dewey, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Hughes, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Mellette, Oglala Lakota, Roberts, Stanley, Sully, Todd, Tripp, and Ziebach. Qualified providers must deliver evidence-based substance use prevention and mental health promotion services, with priority consideration given to counties and areas lacking current prevention resources. Key deliverables include the implementation of six CSAP (Center for Substance Abuse Prevention) strategies: Information Dissemination, Education, Community Based, Environmental, Problem Identification and Referral, and Alternatives. Proposals must address evidence-based program selection, implementation plans aligned with the Strategic Prevention Framework, target population engagement with community stakeholders, training needs, personnel qualifications, referral processes, quality assurance mechanisms, and data collection requirements. Evaluation criteria include specialized expertise, technical competence, availability and familiarity with the project locale, resources, past performance, project management techniques, and cost proposals. Critical deadlines include a non-binding Letter of Intent due April 15, 2026; offeror questions due April 22, 2026, with State responses by April 29, 2026; and formal proposals due May 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. CST via Secured File Transfer Protocol. The anticipated award decision is scheduled for June 12, 2026, with the three-year contract commencing June 22, 2026, through May 31, 2027, with future years operating on the state contract year (June 1 through May 31) contingent on performance and available funding.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational types from responding, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed. Successful offerors must maintain accreditation by the DSS Office of Licensing and Accreditation as applicable under ARSD 67:61 for Substance Use Disorders and must employ or work toward employing Certified Prevention Specialists or Prevention Specialist Trainees. The total available funding for the first contract year is up to $135,886.00, with mandatory budget allocations requiring at least 60 percent of total funding ($81,531.60 minimum) dedicated to substance use prevention activities and a maximum of 40 percent ($54,354.40) allocated to mental health promotion services. Billing rates for services range from $12.00 to $15.00 per unit, with one unit equaling 15 minutes of staff time. Indirect costs are permitted for Resource Development, Administrative (5 percent maximum of direct costs), Ancillary (5 percent maximum), Evaluation (10 percent maximum), and Travel expenses, with specific documentation requirements for mileage reimbursement at $0.67 per mile, lodging at standard state rates, and meals following state per diem guidelines. Offerors may submit inquiries to Kirsten Blachford at Kirsten.Blachford@state.sd.us with the subject line "RFP19777" to obtain clarification on requirements.