This Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (Division) for the provision of capital funds to offset costs incurred in the acquisition, development and renovation of group homes that serve newly placed individuals with acute behavioral and/or medical needs.
The Division has a long history of seeking to develop and expand the network of home and community-based services (HCBS). More recently, efforts have begun to focus on linking physical, behavioral, social and HCBS waiver services to improve overall health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Existing community-based housing is increasingly in demand for individuals with acute needs. Expanding the State’s capacity to serve this population will enhance our network or providers and increase individual choice, with the ultimate goals of strengthening community infrastructure, reducing reliance on institutions, and ensuring individuals are supported in their homes throughout the life course.
II. Background and Population to be Served
Under the leadership of Governor Phil Murphy, New Jersey has been taking steps to strengthen community capacity and increase choice in housing options for individuals with acute needs. The community of focus for this RFP are individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) who have acute behavioral and/or medical needs.
IDDs are disorders that are usually present at birth and affect the trajectory of the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development. Some conditions considered to be developmental disabilities include: intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, spina bifida, traumatic brain injuries and certain neurological disorders.
The Division is committed to serving individuals in community settings most appropriate to their needs. To aide in this, the Division participates in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program.
The MFP Program enables the Division to draw down additional federal funding for eligible individuals for the first year of their HCBS enrollment. Eligible individuals are those who were residing in a qualified institution for at least 90 days prior to their move to a community setting, are Medicaid eligible at least one day prior to moving to a community setting, and are moving to a setting with four or less unrelated individuals. The state savings realized through participation in the MFP Program must be reinvested in efforts to rebalance the system from institutional to HCBS services.
New Jersey has implemented several other initiatives to expand and enhance NJ’s HCBS system. These initiatives include increasing access to affordable and accessible housing for Medicaid-eligible individuals transitioning from institutions to the community, strengthening state Medicaid and state housing partnerships, and coordinating with community partners to improve direct supports for HCBS eligible individuals.
This initiative will allow the Division to continue working in concert with providers to incentivize targeted housing for a population with complex needs.
Organization, History and Experience.
Provide a brief and concise summary of the bidder’s background and experience in implementing this or related types of services and explain how the bidder is qualified fulfill the obligations of the RFP. The written narrative should:
- Describe the agency’s history, mission, purpose, current licenses and modalities, and record of accomplishments. Explain the work with the target population and the
number of years’ experience working with the target population;
- Describe the bidder’s background and experience in implementing program similar to those described in the project scope;
- Describe why the bidder is the most appropriate and best qualified to implement this program in the target service area;
- Summarize the bidder’s administrative and organizational capacity to establish and implement sound administrative practices and successfully carry out the proposed program;
- Describe the bidder’s current status and history relative to debarment by any State, Federal or local government agency. If there is debarment activity, it must be explained with
supporting documentation as an appendix to the bidder’s proposal;
- Provide a description of all active litigation in which the bidder is involved, including pending litigation of which the bidder has received notice. Failure to disclose active or pending litigation
may result in the agency being ineligible for contract award at the Division’s sole discretion;
- Include a description of the bidder’s ability to provide culturally competent services;
- Describe the bidder’s plan to bring the initiative to a conclusion at the end of the contract;
- Describe the bidder’s current status and compliance with contract commitments in regard to
programmatic performance and level of service, if applicable.
Project Description
In this section, the bidder is to provide an overview of how the services detailed in the scope of work will be implemented and the timeframes involved, specifically addressing the following:
- A proposed monthly timeline of activities for engagement and enrollment of the target population;
- The strategies that will be used for engaging the targeted individuals;
- The bidder’s willingness to accept individuals assigned by Division staff and any foreseen barriers in this process;
- The plan to address targeted individual’s treatment needs based on their service profile
including, but not limited to:
- Intensive behavioral supports
- PICA
safe environments
- Prader-Willi syndrome iii. Behavioral programming
iv. Dually diagnosed IDD/Mental Health v. Substance abuse disorders vi. Elopement
- Injurious
behaviors to self/other
- Fire setting behaviors ix. Sexual behaviors and registered sex
offenders.
- Intensive medical supports
- Tube feedings
- Tracheostomy
- Repositioning
- Specialized transportation
5. Description of how the proposed service will integrate the following principles into service delivery, as evidenced by specific program considerations:
- Promotion of wellness and recovery;
- Trauma informed care;
- Creation of a safe and healthy, home-like environment; and
- Demonstration of best practices.
6. The provider agency’s linkages with appropriate not-for profit agencies or service providers in the community in which the proposed program will be located or readily accessible through public transportation, and who could serve as resources for and/or provide off-site services.
Outcome(s) and Evaluation:
Provide the following information related to the projected outcomes associated with the proposal as well any evaluation method that will be utilized to measure successes and/or setbacks associated with this project:
- The bidder’s approach to measurement of individual satisfaction.
- The bidder’s measurement of the achievement of identified goals and objectives.
- The evaluation of contract outcomes.
- Description of all tools to be used in the evaluation.
- Details about any outside entity planned for use to conduct the evaluation, including but not limited to the entity’s name, contact information, brief description of credentials and experience conducting program evaluation.
- Tools and activities the bidder will implement to ensure fidelity to the evidence-based practice.
Staffing:
Bidders should describe the proposed staffing structure and identify how many staff will be hired to meet the needs of the program.
- Describe the composition and skill set of the proposed program team including staff qualifications, credentials and professional licensure.
- Provide details of the Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staffing required to satisfy the contract scope of work. Describe proposed staff qualifications, including professional license and related experience. Details should include currently on-board or to be hired staff, with details of the recruitment effort. Identify bilingual staff.
- Identify the number of work hours per week that constitute each FTE. If applicable, define the Part Time Equivalent (PTE) work hours.
- Description of the proposed organizational structure, including the submission of an organizational chart as an appendix to the bidder’s proposal.
- The bidder’s hiring policies, including background and credential checks, as well as handling of prior criminal convictions.
- The approach for supervision and training of staff.
- A list of the bidder’s board members and current term, including each member’s professional licensure and organizational affiliation(s). The bidder’s proposal must identify each board member who is also an employee of the bidder or an affiliate of the bidder. The proposal shall indicate if the Board of Directors vote on contract-related matters.
- A list of names of consultants the bidder intends to utilize for the contract resulting from this RFP, including each consultant’s professional licensure and organizational affiliation(s). Each consultant must be further described as to whether they are also a board member and, if so, whether they are a voting member. The bidder must identify all reimbursement the consultant received as a board member over the last twelve (12) months.
Facilities/Equipment:
The bidder should detail its facilities where its normal business operations will be performed and identify equipment and other logistical issues including a minimum:
- A description of the manner in which tangible assets, i.e., computers, phones, other special service equipment, etc., will be acquired and allocated.
- A description of the bidder’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility to its facilities and/or offices for individuals with disabilities.
Budget:
The Division will consider the cost efficiency of the proposed budget as it relates to the scope of work. Therefore, bidders must clearly indicate how this funding will be used to meet the program goals and/or requirements. In addition to the required Budget forms, bidders are asked to provide budget notes.
- The budget should be reasonable and reflect the scope of responsibilities required to accomplish the goals of this project. All costs associated with the completion of the project must be delineated and the budget notes must clearly articulate the details of all proposed budget items including a description of miscellaneous expenses and other costs.
- Budget notes that detail and explain the proposed budget methodology and estimates and assumptions made for expenses and the calculations/computations to support the proposed budget. The State’s proposal reviewers need to fully understand the bidder’s budget projections from the information presented in its proposal. Failure to provide adequate information could result in lower ranking of the proposal. Budget Notes, to the extent possible, should be displayed on the Excel template itself.
- The name and address of each organization providing support and/or money to help fund the program for which the proposal is being submitted.
- The timeline for completion of the project.
FINAL PROJECT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
