RFP for Licensed Mental Health Services

PURPOSE:

 

In accordance with N.J.S.A.19:44A-20.4 et seq. and 2 CFR 300.320 the Frankford Township Board of Education (“Board”) is requesting proposals (“RFP”) from clinicians licensed to practice therapeutic mental health services for students in the State of New Jersey.  It is the intention of the Board to retain clinicians to provide therapeutic mental health services to the Board of Education for the 2021/2022 School Year. These services are funded through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund and shall be subject to any and all requirements thereunder.  The RFP is being issued as a “Fair and Open Process” and the resulting contract, if any, shall be awarded based on a determination of the best interest of the Board of Education price and other factors as set forth in this RFP. The requests are being made to ensure the District receives the highest quality service at a fair and competitive price.

 

SCOPE OF SERVICE:

 

The Frankford Township School District is looking for a service provider that can effectively incorporate a comprehensive clinical program into a school day for our students in grades Pre-k to 8th grade. The support system must be full time and embedded into our school day to assist students with emotional and behavioral challenges.

 

The criteria for this program are as follows:

 

  • Provides on-site therapeutic mental health services through licensed professionals to students in public school districts for the 2021-2022 school year
  • provide therapeutic mental health services for a maximum of fifteen (15) students concurrently per licensed mental health professional (hereinafter referred to as “cohort”) enrolled in the District at any given time during the School Year
  • therapeutic mental health services shall include and be scheduled, as follows:
    • Tier 2 moderate intensity clinical programming for up to sixty students over the course of the school year per Tier 2 Clinician:
    • up to one (1) individual psychotherapy session per week for each student;
    •    up to one (1) family therapy session per month; and
    •    upon discussion between the District and the Contractor, a modification of the allocation of various services based upon the needs of the District
  • have one (1) mental health professional monitor one (1) daily lunch period at each School that is solely comprised of students in the cohort;
  • ensure that a mental health professional attends IEP meetings and Section 504 committee meetings, as needed, for students either in a cohort or being considered for enrollment in a cohort, provided that they do not conflict with the other scheduled services outlined in the resulting Agreement;
  • provide up to 6 hours of professional development to be delivered either in-person or virtually during normal school hours on regularly scheduled school days or staff development days;
  • provide up to 90 hours (15 days) of coaching for district teachers according to a plan to be mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the District;
  • provide up to 2, 1-hour virtual mental health workshops for parents.
  • multi-family therapy sessions and some individual family therapy sessions may be scheduled at the School during evening hours
  • follow the multi-tiered systems of support
  • Daily mental health updates

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QUALIFICATIONS OF RESPONDENTS:

 

ALL SUBMISSIONS SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MINIMUM IFORMATION:

 

1.         Name of the individual(s) to be assigned to perform the tasks.

2.         Professional experience and education of the individual(s) to be assigned including a listing of experience (if any) with the Frankford Board of Education and/or experience with other New Jersey Boards of Education. Experience in providing school mental health services for a K-8 and/or K-12 district is preferred.

3.         A statement concerning the ability of the individual to perform tasks assigned by the  Frankford Board of Education in a timely fashion.

4.         Professional licenses and certifications held by the individual(s) to be assigned including the student athlete cardiac professional development module.

5.         A copy of physician license(s) issued by the State of New Jersey.

6.         A description of the support staff available to the individual(s) to be assigned.

7.         A copy of a Certificate of Insurance, issued by an insurance carrier licensed in the State of New Jersey, for the individual showing a minimum amount of $1MM/2MM professional liability insurance and all other insurance coverage shall be required upon award of contract.

8.         A list of three professional references with addresses and telephone contact numbers.  Two must have direct knowledge relating to your experience in the requested service.

9.         A copy of your New Jersey Certificate of Employee Information Report approval pursuant of N.J.A.C.  17:21-1.1 et.seq. or a completed Form AA-302 Initial Employee Information report.

10.     A copy of your New Jersey Business Registration Certificate.

11.     Evidence that a principal office location in close proximity to the Board of Education so as to be able to respond to emergent matters promptly.

12.     Must list work with school attorney on medical/legal concerns.

 

CONTRACT PERIOD:

The term of contract for Therapeutic Mental Health Services for the 2021/2022 School Year.

 

 

PRESENTATION PACKAGE :

Submit the RFP Response

 

The Frankford Township Board of Education seeks from all participating respondents’ information that will assist the district in selecting the respondent who will provide the highest quality services at a fair and competitive price.

 

All respondents shall prepare a presentation package to be submitted with the RFP.  The following shall be included in the presentation package:

 

             I.      TECHNICAL CRITERIA:

 

A.          Description of Services

 

All respondents should list all services to be rendered with their explanation in detail of how the services will be provided in alignment with the principles of the Whole Child.  Respondents by submitting a proposal acknowledge that they fully understand the scope of work, activity and service.

 

          II.      MANAGEMENT CRITERIA:

 

A.          Transmittal Letter – Proposal

 

Each respondent shall submit a transmittal letter with the RFP that identifies the person

submitting the proposal and includes a commitment by that person to provide the service

required by the Board of Education.

 

B.           Qualifications: Relevant Experience

 

All respondents shall submit evidence and documentation highlighting qualifications and

experience they have that will assist the district in the evaluation and selection process. 

 

       III.      COST CRITERIA:

 

A.          Fee Proposal

 

All respondents are to submit a fee proposal that complements the service that is being requested.  If the district requests an hourly, daily, weekly rate or per case, per evaluation rate or even a lump sum rate, then the fee proposal submitted by the respondent must be the same.

 

The school district uses a purchase order system for payment to professionals.  The Mental Health Therapeutic Services provider selected will be paid in (12) monthly installments of the fee proposal that is accepted.

 

The letter of transmittal is to be addressed and mailed to:

 

Christopher M. Lessard, School Business Administrator

Frankford Township Board of Education

2 Pines Road

Branchville, New Jersey NJ 07826

 

Reminder:  The Letter of Transmittal and the Presentation Package are to be submitted with the RFP package.

 

SUBMISSION OF RFP PACKAGE:

 

All responses to this Request for Proposals (which must include both the Presentation Package and Required Forms Package) are to be addressed to:

           

Christopher M. Lessard, School Business Administrator

Frankford Township Board of Education

2 Pines Road

Branchville, New Jersey NJ 07826

 

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

 

The deadline to submit a Response to this Request for Proposals (which must include both the Presentation Package and Required Forms Package) is:

 

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

11:00 a.m.

 

AWARD OF CONTRACT/SELECTION CRITERIA:

 

It is the intention of the Franklin Township Board of Education to award the contract to the respondent based upon relative experience, qualifications and ability to provide the highest quality of service at fair and competitive prices.

 

 

The selection criteria to be used in awarding a contract for the services described herein, shall include:

 

  1. Qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks and the amounts of their respective participation;
  2. Experience in providing the professional services requested by the Board of Education and references related thereto; and familiarity with the School District ;
  3. Ability to perform the tasks in a timely fashion, including staffing and familiarity with the subject matter and the Board of Education;
  4. Location (distance) of primary office in relation to the Board of Education schools;
  5. Recent, current and projected workload of the individual or firm;
  6. Thoroughness and completeness of the applicant’s submittal;
  7. Cost of proposal.

 

The Franklin Township Board of Education shall award a contract to a firm or individual that best meets the needs and interests of the Board.

 

AUTHORIZATION TO WORK:

 

No service shall be rendered unless the successful respondent receives an approved purchase order authorizing the respondent to render the service and has provided the appropriate evidence of licensure and otherwise met the requirements of the RFP and the resulting contract.

 

EVALUATION PROCESS: METHODOLOGY OF AWARDING CONTRACT:

 

All RFP responses are to be evaluated on the basis of whose response is the most advantageous to all district, price and other factors considered, and whose response will provide the highest quality of service at fair and competitive prices.

 

The Board of Education will use a one hundred (100) point system in evaluating all proposals.  The criteria to be evaluated are identified below:

 

 

Category

Value Points

I.

Technical Criteria

 

A.    Description of Services

B.     Ability to meet the needs of students, families and the District

 

 

40 points

II.

Management Criteria

 

A.    Transmittal Letter

B.     Qualifications: Relevant Experience

 

 

40 points

III.

Cost Criteria

 

A.    Fee Proposal

 

 

20 points