FY24 Regional Opioid Abatement Funding Leadership, Planning and Coordination Submitted Questions
It’s probably too late but I noticed that there no mention of primary prevention strategies mentioned in the 2024 priorities. Is there a way to include prevention in here somewhere? If there is a procedure to make such request, please let me know.
The Interlocal Agreement governing the Use of Pinellas County Regional Opioid Settlement Funds includes specific Core Strategies and Approved Uses for Opioid funding includes prevention strategies and harm reduction. The 2024 priorities have been established by The Opioid Abatement Advisory Board (OAFAB) for 2024 but do not preclude prevention. OAFAB is tasked with reviewing opioid-related data and setting priorities for regional settlement funding. Please visit the Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board – Pinellas County for meeting information regarding future Pinellas County priorities.
Based on the general nature of the services requested in the RFP, it is assumed that performing this work does not preclude the successful respondent from contracting with Pinellas County on other related efforts. If this is not a correct assumption, please provide guidance on restrictions that currently or may exist.
Correct, the successful respondent can apply for future county solicitations if they meet eligibility criteria for the specific solicitation and there are no disqualifiers that would preclude them from applying.
Does the Opioid Board and Task Force have a working expectation or hypotheses for how the program portfolio will be focused or distributed across the priority areas outlined in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan?
No, distribution of funds will be dependent on identified needs from the data and projections presented to the OAFAB by the Pinellas County Opioid Taskforce, and other relevant and reputable sources, including the final work product of this solicitation.
As part of the needs assessment, is there a specific way the county would like to engage community stakeholders to input on assess, challenge, barriers, service access, etc. listening sessions)?
The final work product should be specific to the local needs of Pinellas County with an understanding of the local system of care. We defer to the respondent’s expertise on how to most effectively leverage available resources and access local community engagement to complete the gaps analysis of prevention, intervention, and treatment services. Engagement activities may be virtual, on-site, off-site, or otherwise and may include but not limited to meetings, surveys, interviews, data resources, or other information received.
Will the awardee have full access to members of the Opioid Board and Task Force throughout the period of performance?
The awardee may attend any OAFAB and/or Opioid Task Force Meetings and have access to previous meeting minutes and current and past strategic plans. Awardee may have access the OAFAB as allowable under Florida’s public meeting law, section 286.011, Florida Statutes. Pinellas County Human Services will serve as the main point of contact for the awardee.
In the RFP (Section F.2.i.b), can you please clarify the scope and focus for literature review and identification of best practices? Our interpretation is focused on best practices related to opioid abatement strategies and not organizational design, operating models, intergovernmental performance, or public-private partnerships.
Proposals should consider the Priority List, Elevate Behavioral Health Report, and Opioid Task Force Strategic Plan when identifying best practices. Abatement strategies should consider operating models, intergovernmental performance, and public-private partnerships where relevant or if currently operating as part of the substance use treatment system of care in Pinellas County.
For external benchmarking purposes, what are other counties in FL and outside of FL that Pinellas would use for comparison?
Pinellas County is the most densely populated County in Florida with unique local dynamics, we defer to the expertise of the respondent in determining comparable counties for benchmarking purposes, as appropriate.
How much visibility and consideration should be given to other FL state-funded strategies that partially or completely overlap with identified gap areas?
We defer to the respondent’s expertise on how to complete the gaps analysis of prevention, intervention, and treatment services most effectively considering the unique local dynamics and available resources of Pinellas County. The focus and priority are the residents of Pinellas County and allocating services in a manner that equally benefits all residents of Pinellas County. Respondents should consider whether the overlap is significant or impactful to the resources and/or treatment available in Pinellas County.
How much visibility and consideration should be given to other neighboring counties and their funding strategies that partially or completely overlap with identified gap areas?
We defer to the respondent’s expertise on how to complete the gaps analysis of prevention, intervention, and treatment services most effectively considering the unique local dynamics and available resources of Pinellas County. The focus and priority are the residents of Pinellas County and allocating services in a manner that equally benefits all residents of Pinellas County. Respondents should consider whether the overlap is significant or impactful to the resources and/or treatment available in Pinellas County.
What is the preferred format for the written report? a. Will the final report(s) be required to be 508 compliant? b. Will the final report(s) be delivered under the letterhead of the Successful Respondent? c. Will the final report(s) be published on a public-facing website?
Final work product should be in PDF or similar readable format. The County prefers reports to comply with the American with Disabilities Act but does not follow Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The report can be delivered on letterhead of respondent’s choice, but final work product will be property of the County. As such, the report will be published public-facing on the Pinellas County Opioid Abatement Settlement Funding and Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board – Pinellas County or other public websites.
What is the budget (range) reserved for this RFP?
The budget was left open to defer to the expertise of respondents on appropriate costs. Respondents are to submit a detailed quote to provide the proposed services. If applicable, provide pricing for various levels of service, such as pricing for both the minimum level of work needed to meet the objectives herein, as well as pricing for the most appropriate level of review recommended based upon respondent’s expertise in this area.
Given the timeline reviewed yesterday, is it correct to expect the contractor to formally start the work in early CY2024?
Yes, the County seeks to have the evaluation completed and final recommendations received within six (6) months of contract execution.
Is there a preference or expectation of in-person engagements? (Page 8-#3ib Scope of Services)
We defer to the respondent’s expertise on how to complete the gaps analysis of prevention, intervention, and treatment services most effectively considering the unique local dynamics and available resources of Pinellas County. The focus and priority are the residents of Pinellas County and allocating services in a manner that equally benefits all residents of Pinellas County. Respondents should consider whether the overlap is significant or impactful to the resources and/or treatment available in Pinellas County.
Who is considered an equivalent to the CEO for this specific engagement? For example, could the Engagement Manager (the role responsible for contract and client management) be the equivalent for the purpose of the Proposal Components? (Page 7 – #4.1ii Proposal Components)
CEO equivalent should be part of the organization’s executive management team or equivalent for the department/segment operating the project with authority to make decisions on behalf of the organization. The Engagement Manager can be the equivalent for the proposal components if they meet the qualifications as detailed in page 7 Section F.1.iii, iv and v.
Is the Pinellas County Regional Opioid Abatement Funding Agreement referenced in Eligibility section #9 (page 4) the included document in Attachment 1? If not, can you please share the document that stipulates the terms and conditions?
No, the Opioid Abatement Funding Agreement referenced in the eligibility section is not Attachment 1. The agreement can be downloaded from the full grant solicitation and application instructions through the grant portal available at: Neighborly Software. Under program description you can download a copy of the agreement. You must click acknowledging that you have reviewed this agreement which includes a link to the document.
The deadline for questions was Oct. 26 at 4 p.m.