PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 HHS Procurement and Contracting Services SOLICITATION ADDENDUM SOLICITATION ADDENDUM: #2 for SOLICITATION:# 537-16-138770 Date: 6/19/2015 PCS Purchaser/Contract Administrator: Vonda White Phone: 512-406-2540 Date Due: 06/26/2015 & Due Time: 2:00 pm, Central Time DESCRIPTION OF THE ADDENDUM: This Addendum is issued to reflect the following information, clarification or change: Post Vendor questions and HHSC responses to vendor questions HHSC Response Vendor Question 1. Does each individual county proposed to be served by the project need to be listed on Form A? 1. No 2 Is it acceptable to write “statewide” as the answer to the counties served by the project on Form A? 2. Yes 3. What are the numeric scoring criteria DSHS will use to evaluate proposals by section or form? RFP Section IV, C states that Form E, F, G, H and Appendix A will be evaluated. 3. HHSC does not publish the value of the evaluation criteria during the RFP process. 4. What is the definition of the TINs? 4. Taxpayer Identification Number (TINS) - An identification number used by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the administration of tax laws. It is issued either by the Social Security Administration (SSA) or by the IRS. A Social Security number (SSN) is issued by the SSA whereas all other TINs are issued by the IRS. PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 5. Along with one (1) original proposal and one copy on electronic media, how many additional copies of the proposal must be submitted? 5. Please submit 5 additional hard copies of the proposal. 6. How does the currently established advisory committee interact or have influence on the current efforts funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide recovery-based, person-centered training and technical assistance to the public behavioral health system in order to increase the delivery of recovery-based, person-centered services to individuals served by the system and to support the training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and/or recovery coaches? 6. The Advisory Committee recommends the scope and direction of Via Hope activities based upon the program goals and objectives elucidated in the statement of work that are determined by the States priority needs and programs. 7. What is the current need for certified peer specialists and certified family partners in the Texas public behavioral health system? 7. The current need has yet to be fully determined. Local Mental Health Authorities must have 1 certified family partner per organization according the DSHS Performance contract. Current best practices for certified peer support specialists state that each organization must have at least two peer providers on site. There are currently 39 LMHAs parent organizations with many individual clinics. As peers move into integrated care and into crisis services and new hires are placed in state hospitals, there is open demand for peer services. According to the International Association of Peer Supporters, peer support is the fastest growing portion of the behavioral health sector. 8. What is the methodology currently being used for identifying and training the target population in recoverybased programs such as person centered recovery planning and peer workforce integration? 8. Methodology will be based on past participation and current need. 9. What was the input and feedback of participating staff and service recipients of LMHAs, DSHS funded providers in the NorthSTAR service area, state hospitals and consumer operated service providers that have participated in recovery-based trainings? How and where can any report(s), document(s) and/or information be accessed? 9. Staff and consumer participation and feedback was central to the success of the trainings. http://sites.utexas.edu/mental-health-institute/ PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 10. What are the current performance measures and target levels of performance for each measure for State Fiscal Year 2015 to conduct recovery-based, personcentered training and technical assistance to the public behavioral health system and to support the training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and recovery coaches currently funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services? 10. This information falls under an open records request to the Department of State Health Services, Mental Health and Substance Use Division. Public Information and Open Records: Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought. Texas Department of State Health Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse Information Services Open Records Request PO Box 149347 Mail Code 2083 Austin, Texas 78714-9347 Please submit email requests to openrecords@dshs.state.tx.us 11. Is there a plan, strategic plan and/or other document describing the goals and service delivery for providing recovery-based, person-centered training and technical assistance to the public behavioral health system and to support the training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and recovery coaches? How and where can those plan(s) and/or document(s) be accessed? 12. What is the current training and technical assistance (for State Fiscal Year 2015) being provided to enhance the spread of a recovery-based, person centered culture and practice? Please send requests by fax to 512-776-7751 or 512-7767720 11. The MHSA website provides ample policy direction in regard to the evolution of a recovery-based system. http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/MHSA/ 12. Current Technical Assistance involves the development of an online Person-Centered Planning tutorial to be placed upon the state supported centralized infrastructure website. Learning communities on integrating peer specialists and recovery leadership are ongoing, TA to consumer operated service providers continues as does ongoing training, testing and certification of peers and family partners. Additional training opportunities for peer specialists and family partners include trauma-informed care, Intentional peer support, peer support for veterans and whole health peer training. Quarterly recovery oriented webinars have occurred throughout the FY15 year. PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 13. Is there a Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement (QA/QI) process being used to monitor training and technical assistance programs internally for effectiveness that is or has been recognized and/or approved by and/or submitted to the Texas Department of State Health Services? How and where can that process and/or document(s) and/or information describing the process be accessed? 13. Training evaluations are given at the end of each training and those are assessed and improvement or changes made if necessary. Records are kept by the current contractor. 14. Does the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and/or the Texas Department of State Health Services have a process to recognize and/or sanction an organization or organizations or entities to train and certify peer specialists in Texas? If so, what is that process? 14. As referenced in the Bidders conference: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guidance SMDL #07-011 and Clarifying Guidance on Peer Support Services Policy, May 1, 2013 “Peer support providers must complete training and certification as defined by the State. Training must provide peer support providers with a basic set of competencies necessary to perform the peer function.” This guidance gives the State authority to recognize an organization to provide training. The State has chosen to authorize a single entity by virtue of public bid and will do so again through the current offering. 15. Texas Mental Health Resource: Via Hope has been sanctioned to provide family partner and peer training, testing and certification. 15. Are there any organization and/or entities recognized and/or sanctioned to train and certify peer specialists in Texas? If so, what are the names of the organization(s) and/or entities? 16. Are there any organization and/or entities recognized and/or sanctioned to train and certify family partners in Texas? If so, what are the names of the organization(s) and/or entities? 16. Texas Mental Health Resource: Via Hope has been sanctioned to provide family partner and peer training, testing and certification. 17. Does the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and/or the Texas Department of State Health Services have a process to recognize and/or sanction an organization or organizations or entities to train and certify recovery coaches in Texas? If so, what is that process? 17. Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals worked with MHSA to develop the recovery coach training and certification. http://www.tcbap.org/ outlines the process for Recovery Coach Certification. PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 18. Are there any organization and/or entities recognized and/or sanctioned to train and certify recovery coaches in Texas? If so, what are the names of the organization(s) and/or entities? 18. Communities for Recovery in Austin is one such organization. 19. How many peer specialists were trained under a Texas Department of State Health Services contract in State Fiscal Year 2014? 19. Certified Peer Specialist (CPSs): Certified- 148 Endorsement- 174 20. How many family partners were trained under a Texas Department of State Health Services contract in State Fiscal Year 2014? 20. Certified Family Partner (CFPs): Certified- 26 Endorsement- 19 21. How many Local Mental Health Authorities in Texas where provided with training and technical assistance regarding recovery-based, person centered culture and/or practice in State Fiscal Year 2014? 22. How many individuals at each Local Mental Health Authority that was provided with training and technical assistance regarding recovery-based, person centered culture and/or practice in State Fiscal Year 2014 were provided with that training in State Fiscal Year 2014? 23. How many State Hospitals in Texas where provided with training and technical assistance regarding recovery-based, person centered culture and/or practice in State Fiscal Year 2014? 24. How many individuals at each State Hospital that was provided with training and technical assistance regarding recovery-based, person centered culture and/or practice in State Fiscal Year 2014 were provided with that training in State Fiscal Year 2014? 25. . Does the Texas Department of State Health Services have a narrative document and/or report that describes the recovery-based, person-centered training and technical assistance and training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and/or recovery coaches and related recovery related activities conducted in State Fiscal Year 2014 financed by DSHS? How and where can that document(s) and/or information be accessed? 26. Does the Texas Department of State Health Services have a financial report and/or financial information that describe the costs related to recoverybased, person-centered training and technical assistance and training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and/or recovery coaches and related recovery activities conducted in State Fiscal Year 2014? How and where can that document(s) and/or information be accessed? 21. Thirteen organizations received training and technical assistance. 22. Technical Assistance was given to providers in LMHA identified units or clinics. Individuals trained where not the unit of measure. 23. Four hospitals received training and technical assistance. 24. Technical Assistance was given to providers in identified units or clinics. Individuals trained where not the unit of measure. 25. This information can be found at: http://sites.utexas.edu/mental-health-institute/ 26. This information falls under an open records request to the Department of State Health Services, Mental Health and Substance Use Division. Public Information and Open Records: Texas Government Code, Chapter 552, gives you the right to access government records; and an officer for public information and the officer's agent may not ask why you want them. All government information is presumed to be available to the public. Certain exceptions may apply to the disclosure of the information. Governmental bodies shall promptly release requested information that is not confidential by law, either constitutional, statutory, or by judicial decision, or information for which an exception to disclosure has not been sought. PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 Texas Department of State Health Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse Information Services Open Records Request PO Box 149347 Mail Code 2083 Austin, Texas 78714-9347 Please submit email requests to openrecords@dshs.state.tx.us . 27. Does the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and/or the Texas Department of State Health Services have a process to recognize and/or sanction LMHAs and/or State Hospitals to train and certify peer specialists, certified family partners, and/or certified recovery coaches in Texas? If so, what is that process? 28. How many staff members of LMHA’s and State Hospitals need training in recovery-based, personcentered culture and practice in the Texas public behavioral health system? 29. Does a document(s) and/or information exist that describes how outcomes data on the provision of recovery-based, person-centered training and technical assistance and training, certification and continuing education of peer providers, family partners and/or recovery coaches and related recovery related activities in Texas? How and where can that document(s) and/or information be accessed? 30. What is the description of the role of the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at the University of Texas School of Social Work Research in collecting data for outcomes and evaluation? 31. If we checked the box saying we have not exceptions, do we need to include the table that follows, or can we save that sheet of paper? 32. What is the process for an organization to become recognized by DSHS as an organization that can provide certification for Peers and family partners? Please send requests by fax to 512-776-7751 or 512-7767720 27. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guidance SMDL #07-011 and Clarifying Guidance on Peer Support Services Policy, May 1, 2013 “Peer support providers must complete training and certification as defined by the State. Training must provide peer support providers with a basic set of competencies necessary to perform the peer function.” This guidance gives the State authority to recognize an organization to provide these competencies’. 28. Training and Implementation strategy will look at organizational units not number of individual’s to be trained. 29. This information can be found at: http://sites.utexas.edu/mental-health-institute/ 30. The role of the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health is to work with the organization receiving the award to provide services to implement and evaluate Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Mental Health and Substance Abuse (MHSA) recovery and resilience initiatives and services. 31. If you do not have any exceptions, it is not necessary to include the table that follows the exceptions form. 32. The respondent that receives the award will be authorized to provide peer provider and family partner training, testing and certifications and continuing education based upon the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Guidance SMDL #07-011, dated August 15, 2007, to States in regard to peer support services and based upon the Texas Administrative Code, Part 1, Department of State Health Services, Chapter 416, Mental Health Community-Based service, Rule 416.3 Definitions, item 6 (E). The emerging national practice is to include peer providers in crisis and other settings, the Texas Administrative Cod , Chapter 416, Mental Health and Community-Based Services provides guidance on minimum PCS 121 Revised 6-24-14 competencies for mental health rehabilitation services for both peer providers and certified family partners. 33. Are all services to be directed to community MHMR Centers, State hospitals and consumers served by them? 33. All training and technical assistance described in this offering ultimately supports the recovery of persons served by the behavioral health system. To that end TA provided will include providers in community MHMR centers, State Hospitals, Consumer Operated Service Provider Organizations, Recovery Care Organizations, certified peer providers, family partners and eligible recovery coaches. 34. How many community MHMR centers and state hospitals will be provided with training and technical assistance annually? 34. The number will be based upon the needs assessment portion of the response, and the departments ongoing strategy involving the continued implementation of Texas Recovery and Resiliency and will negotiated with the department at the time of award. 35. What number of consumers are expected to be trained annually? 35. The growth and participation of peers as a provider type in the behavioral health system is an emerging practice and data set. As such a discrete number of consumers to be trained annually has not been determined. 37. Can you say what specific printing services will be needed? We can handle all digital printing internally but may need to outsource promotional items and offset printing. This will determine which method we will use. 37. Some examples of printing services may include printing of brochures, training materials, and certification certificates.