King County Peer Respite Pilot Program RFP

OVERVIEW: a Peer Run Respite program would provide services focused on recovery-based alternatives to inpatient Behavioral Health Crisis hospitalizations, building on a participant’s existing supports and skills to improve overall outcomes. The vision for this project is to establish a Peer Run Respite center serving King County, thus adding to the rich network of providers, and allowing individuals more options for addressing psychiatric distress in a voluntary, strengths-based, and individualized atmosphere.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is also releasing a separate funding opportunity for similar statewide programs and can be found here: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/building-infrastructure/capital-facilities/behavioral-health-bed-grants/. Interested bidders may be eligible to apply to either or both RFPs, but if must to apply to either RFP separately.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance of any contract resulting from this RFP is tentatively scheduled to begin on or about May 1, 2020 and to end on December 31, 2020. However, it is the expectation of DCHS that the Peer Respite Services continue beyond the funding period consistent with the bidder’s program sustainability plan. Amendments extending the period of performance, if any, will be at the sole discretion of DCHS.

TIMELINE:

Bidder Conference:  April 1, 2020

Questions Due:  April 10, 2020 | 2:00 p.m.

Proposals Due: May 18, 2020 | 2:00 p.m.

COMMUNICATION:  All contact during this RFP process must be through the RFP Coordinator stated below. ZoomGrants is the official notification and posting place for this RFP and any Addenda.  Bidders are responsible for checking ZoomGrants regularly for any announcements or addenda issued.

RFP COORDINATOR: Andria Howerton dchs-c&p@kingcounty.gov

BIDDER CONFERENCE: A bidders’ conference is scheduled to be held at the date and time indicated in the schedule. The location of the bidders’ conference will be via Skype.  The Skype information can be found within the RFP document under the library tab. All prospective bidders should attend; however, attendance is not mandatory.

Eligibility 

To be eligible to participate in this RFP, bidders must successfully demonstrate in their proposal how they meet the following Minimum Qualifications. The successful bidder must:

  1. Be a CRO with its Board of Directors composed of a majority (51% or more) of Consumers; OR
  2. Have the capacity to develop or transition to a CRO prior to the implementation of services; OR
  3. Have an advisory committee made up primarily of Consumers (not employees of the bidder) that reports directly to the bidder’s Board of Directors; OR if there is no Board of Directors, the president of the organization who has an active and direct role in establishing policy for the Peer Respite Services; OR
  4. Bidders that are not CRO’s, and who may be contracting or sub-contracting with a CRO, must include in their proposal a written description of how the Peer Respite will be autonomous from the clinical operations of their organization as well as providing a staffing model establishing that the management team overseeing the Peer Respite operations are all Peer staff; AND
  5. Ensure all Peer Respite program staff and management of the Peer Respite program are Peer Support Specialists; AND
  6. Have an identified Peer Respite site that meets appropriate clearances. Bidder is responsible for researching area specific regulations.
    • Bidder must demonstrate documentation that meets zoning requirements for intended use.
    • If the site will be leased or is already leased, bidder must provide a letter of agreement from the landlord specifying intent to lease for the useful life of improvements (estimated for 20 years), renovations are allowed, and property can be used for Peer Respite program.

King County may disqualify proposals that do not demonstrate meeting the specified Bidder Minimum Qualifications and will not be eligible for contract award under this RFP. King County has the right to accept all or part of the proposed program model at its discretion.

Questions

Applicants will be required to submit any questions in writing prior to the close of business on April 10, 2020 by 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time, through the Contact Admin tab in ZoomGrants.  The DCHS responses to all questions received will be posted as an RFP addendum on ZoomGrants.  Any addenda issued will be done by close of business on April 14, 2020. Potential applicants are responsible to check ZoomGrants for any addenda issued.

If potential applicants are experiencing technical difficulties with ZoomGrants, please email the RFP Coordinator, Andria Howerton directly at DCHS-C&P@kingcounty.gov for assistance.

For full details visit: https://www.zoomgrants.com/zgf/King_County_Peer_Respite_Pilot