Denton County MHMR Center Notice For REQUEST FOR APPLICATION - DRAFT In compliance with the requirements of the Texas Administrative Code, RFP # 210 is posted for public comment. Written comments will be accepted through October 4, 2012 and should be directed to the address below or by email: Denton County MHMR Center ATTN: Deana Wesley, Contracts Manager 2519 Scripture St. Denton, Texas 76201 deanaw@dentonmhmr.org. The Denton County MHMR is the Department of State Health Services designated Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) established to plan, coordinate, develop policy, develop and allocate resources, supervise, and ensure the provision of community based mental health and mental retardation services for the residents of Denton County, Texas. Denton County ( The Center ) is seeking proposals for the provision of Veteran Services within Denton County. Copies of the RFP #210 may be obtained via internet at www.dentonmhmr.org, written request or faxed request for mailed copy or picked up: Deana Wesley, Contracts Manager Denton County MHMR 2519 Scripture Denton, Texas 76201 Fax # (940)382-6931 Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to Deana Wesley at (940)565-5263 or at deanaw@dentonmhmr.org.
DENTON COUNTY MHMR CENTER PO BOX 2346 2519 Scripture Denton, Texas 76202 REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) RFA #210 for Veteran Services September 2012 2
Denton County MHMR Center Notice For REQUEST FOR APPLICATION RFA - #210 The Center issues this Request for Application to enlist, under a contractual agreement, for Veteran Services in compliance with the requirements of the Texas Administrative Code. Applications will be accepted until October 15, 2012 at 5:00pm. Denton County MHMR Center ATTN: Deana Wesley, Contracts Manager 2519 Scripture St Denton, Texas 76201 deanaw@dentonmhmr.org. The Denton County MHMR Center is the Department of State Health Services designated Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) established to plan, coordinate, develop policy, develop and allocate resources, supervise, and ensure the provision of community based mental health and intellectual and developmental disability services for the residents of Denton County, Texas. Denton County MHMR Center ( The Center ) is seeking applications for the provision of Veteran Services who are residing within Denton County. The services requested shall be performed in Denton County. Copies of the RFA may be obtained via internet at www.dentonmhmr.org, written request or email request to deanaw@dentonmhmr.org or picked up at 2519 Scripture St., Denton, TX, 76201. Questions regarding this RFA should be directed to Deana Wesley at (940) 565-5263. 3
MENTAL HEALTH OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FOR VETERAN SERVICES The Denton County MHMR Center is the Department of State Health Services designated Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) established to plan, coordinate, develop policy, develop and allocate resources, supervise, and ensure the provision of community based mental health and intellectual and developmental disability services for the residents of Denton County, Texas. The Center s Mission is: Denton county Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center enhances the quality of life of the individuals served and their family members. The Center s Values are: We respect each individual s unique and special concerns by providing assistance to best fit their needs. The Center s Vision Statement is: We envision a Denton County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center That provides effective, comprehensive, and timely services to any and all persons in need Where a qualified, motivated, and caring staff strive to make a difference in the lives of those they serve That offers state-of the-art, high quality facilities to assist individuals in living full and productive lives Pursuant to Texas Administrative Code 412.60 and 412.754, Denton County MHMR Center, is the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) designated mental health local authority established to plan, coordinate, develop policy, develop and allocate resources, supervise and ensure the provision of community based mental health services for residents of Denton County. I. SERVICES SOUGHT This Request for Application seeks participation from applicants for the purpose of offering Veteran Services within Denton County. Those services include: A. Contractor shall implement a Community-Based Veteran Peer-to-Peer Counseling Project (Project) to enhance or expand the availability of and access to community-based behavioral health services for veterans. The Project shall, at a minimum, enhance and expand veteran facilitated peer-to-peer counseling related to behavioral health issues for veterans; B. Contractor s Project may enhance or expand collaborations with Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) and the Local Behavioral Health Authority in order to strengthen the statewide network of veterans services and supports and to recruit, retain, and organize the services provided by volunteers who have been trained in a curriculum-based peer-to-peer counseling course such as 4
Bring Everyone In The Zone, Operation Resilient Families, or an equivalent curriculum that has been approved by DSHS; Project Design The Project shall enhance or expand the availability of or access to peer-to-peer counseling, and community veteran reintegration services. Contractor shall coordinate veteran reintegration services with community veteran organizations and individuals (Stakeholders) who provide veteran reintegration services, including the following: 1. Programs for substance use screening, assessment, and treatment; 2. County Service Officers and/or the Texas Veterans Commission; 3. Veterans Integrated Services Network; 4. TexVet: Partners Across Texas; 5. Programs that support housing and employment; 6. Programs that support female veterans; 7. Jail diversion programs for veterans and active military service members related to behavioral health services; 8. Programs being implemented by other veterans or military service organizations; 9.Community based veteran drop-in centers. C. Contractor shall sponsor and/or organize quarterly briefings for Volunteers and member of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF), who have been trained in peer-to-peer mental health counseling (Military Peers) and who have agreed to provide services similar to those provided by the Volunteers. The briefings shall, at a minimum, include information about community based health and human services for veterans, information about community based veteran reintegration initiatives, or information about evidence-based practices aimed at enhancing participants ability to provide veteran peer-to-peer counseling; Quarterly Briefings. Contractor shall sponsor and/or organize quarterly briefings for Stakeholders and volunteers for the following purposes: 1. Share information about the activities of the Military Veteran Peer Network and Stakeholders; 2. Update members of the Military Veteran Peer Network and Stakeholders about community resources and reintegration services for veterans, and assess the reintegration service needs of veterans in the community; 3. Identify deficiencies in community reintegration services, and devise tactics to address the deficiencies; 4. Share information about community-based health and human services for veterans; 5. Share information about evidence-based practices to enhance Network members ability to provide veteran peer-to-peer counseling; and 6. Share information about how to navigate community-based health and human services systems, including how to access services and make efficacious referrals to community mental health care providers. 5
7. Contractor shall assist volunteers in locating meeting space and introduce them to briefings on peer-to-peer counseling and invite volunteers to participate in the briefings. 8. Contractor shall create and maintain a list of Stakeholders and volunteers. Contractor shall document the quarterly briefings by maintaining a list of attendees, dates, briefing locations, and topics discussed. Contractor shall submit the documentation electronically to the Authority, and make documentation available to Authority upon request. D. Contractor shall enhance and expand the Military Veteran Peer Network (Network), Contractor shall screen and recruit individuals who want to become members. Because the Network, whose members are Volunteers and Military Peers (Members), is established in order to link them through phone, email, and regular briefings Contractor shall brief Members about community base reintegration services, ensuring that each Member is connected to the DSHS-identified Military Veteran Peer Network (Network). Contractor shall assist Members in locating meeting space, introducing them to community service providers, inviting them to participate in community based briefings about peer-to-peer counseling, and briefing them about how to navigate community based health and human services systems including how to access services and make efficacious referrals to community mental health care providers; E. Contractor shall monitor volunteers to verify that services provided by them include at a minimum, responding to requests from veterans who are seeking to access veteran and/or veteran and military family reintegration services. These reintegration services include, but are not limited to, meeting with veterans one-on-one or in group settings and informing them about and/or referring them to community health and human service providers. F. Each quarter, Contractor shall screen, recruit and recommend to Authority applicants who want to become volunteers of the Network. Contractor shall screen all applicants using a written assessment provided by Authority. Contractor shall submit applicants completed assessments to Authority no later than six business days after completion. Contractor shall recruit at least one female applicant every other quarter. DSHS and State Coordinator will coordinate training for successful applicants. G. Contractor shall maintain quarterly contact with volunteers who are providing services under this Program Attachment and reside within Contractor s service area(s). Contractor shall ensure that volunteers are actively engaged in delivering services, determine what supports might be appropriate to assist volunteers in their efforts to achieve the aims and goals of the Project, including recruitment of applicants. Contractor shall contact volunteers by telephone, email, or in person and document contacts by submitting an email to the Authority each quarter that includes the names of individuals contacted, the dates contacts were made, and whether volunteers are active or inactive. A volunteer is considered active if he or she has provided services or intends to provide services during the current or following quarter. Contractor shall submit this documentation to Authority upon request. 6
II. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Qualified Veteran III INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS To facilitate and ensure an objective review, applicants must complete and submit the following: a. Professional Application (Attachment A) b. Assurances (Attachment B) d. Background Check Consent Form (Attachment C) Applicants must send one (1) original and four (4) copies of the entire application to: Denton County MHMR Center Attn: Deana Wesley 2519 Scripture St Denton, Texas 76201 (940) 565-5263 Applications may be sent by regular mail or special carrier no later than October 15, 2012 at 5 p.m. Applications will be processed upon receipt. In the future, other open enrollment periods for services may be announced to ensure availability of adequate numbers of service providers to meet the volume of demand for services. False statements or information provided by an applicant may result in disqualification of enrollment into the Network. The Center reserves the right to reject any and all applications, to waive technicalities, and to accept any advantages deemed beneficial to the Center and the individuals served. Each prospective service provider is responsible for ensuring that documents for potential enrollment are submitted completely and on time. The Center expressly reserves the right not to evaluate any applications that are incomplete or late. Any attached Form(s) must be completed by each applicant to be considered for possible enrollment in the Network. The entire response to this Request for Application shall be subject to disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. If the applicant believes information contained therein is legally accepted from disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act, the applicant should conspicuously (via bolding, highlighting and/or enlarged font) mark those portions of its response as confidential and submit such information under seal. Such information may still be subject to disclosure under the Public Information Act depending on opinions from the Attorney General s office. IV. REQUIRED APPLICATION INFORMATION: A. Please complete the professional application that is included in the RFA packet. If additional space is need please attach additional pages necessary to complete this application. 7
B. No employee of the Center or DSHS, and no member of the Center's Board of Trustees can directly or indirectly receive any pecuniary interest from an award of the proposed contract. If such a situation exists, please explain in detail. V. RATE AND METHOD OF PAYMENT Applicant agrees, for those services it is submitting an application, to accept the fees listed below as payment in full for approved Veteran services. The Applicant will not submit a claim or bill or collect compensation from The Center for any service which it has not been approved or contracted to provide. Services Sought for Denton County Rate of Reimbursement Veteran Services $2864.00 monthly The Center does not pay for no show or cancelled appointments. VI. ASSURANCES (for signature copy see Attachment B) Applicant must assure the following: 1. That all addenda, exhibits and/or attachments to the Application as distributed by the Center have been received. 2. That the criteria for approval are met. 3. That the applicant is not currently held in abeyance or barred from the award of a federal or state contract. 4. That the applicant is not currently delinquent in its payments of any franchise tax or state tax owed to the state of Texas, pursuant to Texas Business Corporation Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 2.45. 5. No attempt will be made by the Applicant to induce any person or firm to submit or not to submit an application, unless so described in the application document. 6. The Applicant does not discriminate in its services or employment practices on the basis or race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or age. 7. That no employee of the Center or DSHS and no member of the Center s Board of Trustees will directly or indirectly receive any pecuniary interest from an award of the proposed contract. If the applicant is unable to make the affirmation, then the applicant must disclose any knowledge of such interests. 8. Applicant accepts the terms, conditions, criteria, and requirements set forth in the Application. 9. Applicant accepts the Center s right to cancel the Application at any time prior to contract award. 10. Applicant accepts the Center s right to alter the timetables for procurement as set forth in the Application. 11. The application submitted by the Applicant has been arrived at independently without consultation, communication, or agreement for the purpose of restricting competition. 12. Unless otherwise required by law, the information in the application submitted by the Applicant has not been knowingly disclosed by the Applicant to any other Applicant prior to the notice of intent to award. 13. No claim will be made for payment to cover costs incurred in the preparation of the 8
submission of the application or any other associated costs. 14. The Center has the right to complete background checks and verify information. 15. The individual signing this document and the contract is authorized to legally bind the Applicant. 16. The address submitted by the Applicant to be used for all notices sent by the Center is current and correct. 17. Applicant shall disclose whether any of the directors or personnel of applicant has either been an employee or a trustee of The Center within the past two (2) years preceding the date of submission of the Application. 18. Applicant shall identify in an attached writing any trustee or employee of The Center who has a financial interest in applicant or who is related within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity to a person having such financial interest. Such disclosure shall include a complete statement of the nature of such financial interest and the relationship, if applicable. Moreover, applicant shall state in an attached writing whether any of its directors or personnel knowingly has had a personal relationship with employees or officers of The Center within the past two (2) years. 19. No former employee or officer of DSHS, DADS, and/or The Center directly or indirectly aided or attempted to aid in procurement of applicant service. 20. Applicant shall disclose in an attached writing the name of every The Center key person with whom applicant is doing business or has done business during the 365 day period immediately prior to the date on which the application is due; failure to include such a disclosure will be a binding representation by applicant that the natural person executing the Proposal has no knowledge of any key persons with whom applicant is doing business or has done business during the 365 day period prior to the immediate date on which the applicant is due. 21. Under Section 231.006, Family Code, the vendor or applicant certifies that the individual or business entity named in this contract, bid, or application is not ineligible to receive the specified grant, loan, or payment and acknowledges that this contract may be terminated and payment may be withheld if this certification is inaccurate. For purposes of the foregoing sentence, vendor or applicant shall mean applicant; contract, bid or application shall mean the Proposal; and this contract shall mean any Contract awarded to the Successful Applicant. 9
ATTACHMENT A 10
ASSURANCES Attachment B Applicant must assure the following: 1. That all addenda, exhibits and/or attachments to the Application as distributed by the Center have been received. 2. That the criteria for approval are met. 3. That the applicant is not currently held in abeyance or barred from the award of a federal or state contract. 4. That the applicant is not currently delinquent in its payments of any franchise tax or state tax owed to the state of Texas, pursuant to Texas Business Corporation Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 2.45. 5. No attempt will be made by the Applicant to induce any person or firm to submit or not to submit an application, unless so described in the application document. 6. The Applicant does not discriminate in its services or employment practices on the basis or race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or age. 7. That no employee of the Center or DSHS, and no member of the Center s Board of Trustees will directly or indirectly receive any pecuniary interest from an award of the proposed contract. If the applicant is unable to make the affirmation, then the applicant must disclose any knowledge of such interests. 8. Applicant accepts the terms, conditions, criteria, and requirements set forth in the Application. 9. Applicant accepts the Center s right to cancel the Application at any time prior to contract award. 10. Applicant accepts the Center s right to alter the timetables for procurement as set forth in the Application. 11. The application submitted by the Applicant has been arrived at independently without consultation, communication, or agreement for the purpose of restricting competition. 12. Unless otherwise required by law, the information in the application submitted by the Applicant has not been knowingly disclosed by the Applicant to any other Applicant prior to the notice of intent to award. 13. No claim will be made for payment to cover costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of the application or any other associated costs. 14. The Center has the right to complete background checks and verify information. 15. The individual signing this document and the contract is authorized to legally bind the Applicant. 16. The address submitted by the Applicant to be used for all notices sent by The Center is current and correct. Applicant Signature Date 11
ATTACHMENT C 12