Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Request for Applications (RFA) for Youth Mental Health Treatment Services

Answer 1: Yes – view the slide deck on the DHS website » 

Answer 2: The RFA is the totality of items on the website. At that site, it is divided into a section for Forms and a section for Attachments, and there is a separate link to the scoring criteria and evaluation process. The RFA is comprised of all those items in totality. The application packet will consist of Forms 1-4. Attachment A contains all the details of what services we are seeking. Attachments B and C contain the terms and conditions for contracting.

Answer 3: The fields on the form do not expand, so it is acceptable to note “see attached” and provide a text document with your expanded answers.

Answer 4: Yes, that is correct. They would need to be County clients to qualify for Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS), which is what this type of a contract would be. Depending on the nature of the program and the contract, some contracts are what are called ‘self-authorizing’ where contractors are authorized to provide an initial assessment which then establishes the medical necessity for that level of care. Others are participants on the network, so County would have done the medical necessity establishment in advance through our access team. In the latter case, we build into the contracts a way to refer in the event that you have someone who is a client of your program that's not a client of the county, and you think they probably should be. We would work together to get them through the access process for consideration.

Answer 5: Please include in your proposal that you would like to be considered for self-authorization. That would have to be negotiated in contracting as to whether we can approve that status. It is not guaranteed, but it is worthwhile to include that self-authorization is something that you would like to consider as part of your program design in becoming an access point.

Answer 6: No, but it is preferred to keep clients close to natural supports.

Answer 7: Correct, you are not required to submit a budget as part of your application. Budgets will be requested as part of the contract negotiation process.

Answer 8: Applications must be turned in by September 15, 2026 to ensure contract term will start on July 1, 2027. Applications received after September 15 are not guaranteed to start July 1, but would be considered for contract at the soonest possible date.

Answer 9: Information about the reimbursement rate negotiation process can be found in Attachment A on page 41.

Answer 10: DHS is interested in services that provide coverage countywide. If your proposed program is specific to a particular geographic area of the County, please highlight that in your application.

Answer 11: It depends on how the proposed program is structured and the identified system need. An applicant may propose a single program that spans multiple service categories or a program that addresses only one service category. If a proposed program covers multiple service categories but the County identifies a need for only a portion of those services, DHS may follow up with the applicant to address the identified system need.

Answer 12: This RFA is separate from any FY&C programs or contracts with the Human Services Department. Any similarities or overlap in service category names are coincidental. All departments have separate procurement processes that result in separate contracts, however other departments may use this RFA to substitute for their own procurements.

Answer 13: If the proposed program would serve youth over a continuum of level of need, the applicant may submit it as one program that reflects that continuum. However, depending on the County’s identified system needs, DHS may determine that only a portion of the proposed continuum is needed. In that situation, DHS may discuss and negotiate with the applicant to provide services at one or more levels rather than the entire continuum initially proposed. If the program is structured to operate as a continuum, the application should describe it that way. Identified systems needs may be further discussed and addressed in negotiations.

Answer 14: FFT is an Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) mandate. Counties are required to make FFT, MST (Multi-Systemic Therapy), and PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) available to eligible beneficiaries as part of BH Connect.

Answer 15: DHS is required to offer High-Fidelity Wrap to youth who qualify for that level of care and choose to participate in those services. Generally, youth who qualify for Full-Service Partnership (FSP) level of service may also qualify for High-Fidelity Wrap level of service. There may be some youth who qualify for FSP level services but do not qualify for High-Fidelity Wrap or who choose not to participate in HFW due to the intensity of the service. For this reason, DHS anticipates maintaining FSP level services that are not exclusively delivered through the HFW model. An applicant proposing to serve FSP Level clients may propose to do so through an HFW program or may propose services for FSP level clients who are not receiving HFW services.

Answer 16: Yes, it is possible. The state requires DHS to provide MST and FFT. However, there is a process through which a county may demonstrate to the State that there is not sufficient local need to support one or both programs and request an alternative.

DHS currently believes there is sufficient need to include these services as part of the system of care. However, if DHS later determines that there is not enough need to support one or both programs, DHS may pursue the State’s process for addressing insufficient local need.

Answer 17: If the applicant has published rates for services, please include a rate table with your application documents.  There is no form provided by DHS for this; it is not a requirement.    Regardless of whether established rates are provided, final rates will be negotiated between the department and the contracted vendor.

Answer 18: There is no template or sample provided.  Please see Answer #17.

Answer 19: All attachments should be included after the required forms.

Answer 20: Include only the program or service category described in that specific Form 2.

Answer 21: If the proposed program would serve youth over a continuum of level of need, the applicant may submit it as one program on one Form 2 that reflects that continuum. A single program may include multiple service categories that work together as a continuum.

Answer 22: The intention of 1.2.1 is to be separate from a HFW program.  HFW is listed as a separate service category in 2.1.

Answer 23: Applicants will be notified of a general acceptance at this time.  The County may also notify applicants of selection decisions for specific service categories at this time, and/or may also make specific service category decisions at a later date.

Answer 24: Applicants may provide a start-up timeline in their proposal.  Start-up specifics will be negotiated during the contracting process.

Answer 25: The RFA will remain open for 3 years.  The County will provide notice if and when new service needs are added to the RFA, including direct notification to eligible vendors and posting the opportunity to the Department website. Implementation timelines will vary based on the service being added, including the complexity of the program, staffing and facility requirements, licensing or certification needs, and the extent to which a provider must establish a new service or modify an existing one. Start-up timelines for new, additional, or amended services will be negotiated during the contracting process.