Regional Opioid Abatement Funding -Competitive Application Instructions

Leadership, Planning and Coordination

I. Background

Effective December 22, 2021, Pinellas County, the City of St. Petersburg, the City of Pinellas Park, and the City of Clearwater, entered into a collaborative Interlocal Agreement Governing the Use of Pinellas County Regional Opioid Settlement Funds (Interlocal, as attached to Opioid Abatement Funding Priority List as Attachment 1) to establish the County as a “Qualified County” for purposes of receiving regional opioid settlement funds and to establish the Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board (OAFAB) for collaborative oversight. The OAFAB is tasked with reviewing opioid-related data, setting priorities for regional settlement funding, and, after competitive solicitations administered by Pinellas County Human Services, recommending funding recipients and programs to the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners.

Pinellas County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board Members include:

• Chief Ian Womack, Chair, City of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue
• Dr. Ulyee Choe, Vice-Chair, Florida Dept. of Health in Pinellas County, Director
• Kathleen Beckman, City of Clearwater, Councilmember
• Sandra Bradbury, City of Pinellas Park, Mayor
• Kathleen Peters, Pinellas County, Commissioner

The OAFAB will strive to fund services and programs that are available to all residents of Pinellas County and allocate funding and services in a manner that equally benefits all residents of Pinellas County. The Pinellas County Regional Opioid Abatement Funding Priority List (Priority List, Attachment 1), developed by the OAFAB and approved on June 16, 2023, by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), provides for approved uses of Pinellas County Regional Opioid Abatement Funding (Regional Funding). The first distribution of funding to Pinellas County, received in April 2023, totaled over $13M.

II. Fiscal Year 2024 Priorities

A. Leadership, Planning & Coordination

Statewide, regional, local, or community regional planning to identify root causes of addiction and overdose, goals for reducing harms related to the opioid epidemic, and areas and populations with the greatest needs for treatment intervention services; to support training and technical assistance; or to support other strategies to abate the opioid epidemic described in this opioid abatement strategy list.

B. Evidence Based Data Collection and Research Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Abatement Strategies within the State

1. Monitoring, surveillance, data collection, and evaluation of programs and strategies described in this opioid abatement strategy list.
2. Geospatial analysis of access barriers to MAT and their association with treatment engagement and treatment outcomes.

C. Expansion of Warm Hand-Off Programs and Recovery Services

1. Expand services such as navigators and on-call teams to begin MAT in hospital emergency departments.
2. Expand warm hand-off services to transition to recovery services.
3. Broaden scope of recovery services to include co-occurring substance use disorder (“SUD”) and/or mental health conditions.
4. Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals in recovery including housing, transportation, job placement/training, and childcare through all phases of recovery.
5. Hire additional social workers or other behavioral health workers to facilitate expansions above.

D. Medication Assisted Treatment “MAT” Distribution and Other Opioid Related Treatment

1. Increase distribution of MAT to non-Medicaid eligible or uninsured individuals
2. Provide MAT education and awareness training to healthcare providers, EMTs, law enforcement, and other first responders.
3. Treatment and Recovery Support Services such as residential and inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient therapy or counseling, and recovery housing that allow or integrate medication with other support services.

E. Pregnant and Post-Partum Women

1. Expand Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (“SBIRT”) services to non-Medicaid eligible or uninsured pregnant women.
2. Expand comprehensive evidence-based treatment and recovery services, including MAT, for women with co-occurring Opioid Use Disorder (“OUD”) and SUD/mental health disorders for uninsured individuals for up to 12 months postpartum.
3. Provide comprehensive wrap-around services to individuals with OUD including housing, transportation, job placement/training, and childcare.

F. Expanding Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

1. Expand comprehensive evidence-based and recovery support for NAS babies.
2. Expand services for better continuum of care with infant-need dyad.
3. Expand long-term treatment and services for medical monitoring of NAS babies and their families.

III. General Information

A. Eligibility

1. Each applicant organization must be registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, as per Florida Statute §607.1501, prior to engaging in business transactions with Pinellas County, a subdivision of the State of Florida. A foreign corporation (foreign to the State of Florida) may not transact business in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority from the Department of State. Please visit dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/ for this information on how to become registered.
2. The applicant organization must be the legal entity entering into the contract. Any proposed subcontracts must be discussed and integrated in the application scope. The applicant organization is responsible for the oversight and completion of any work proposed in the application.
3. The proposed programs and services must be dedicated to the residents of Pinellas County.
4. The mission and proposed services of the applicant organization must be consistent with Priority Plan and the Interlocal.
5. The applicant organization shall not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment or against any client because of age, sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.
6. The applicant organization must not discriminate against any person on the basis of age, sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services, and activities.
7. Programs proposed by faith-based organizations must have a secular purpose, neither advance nor inhibit religion, and must not require worship or religious instruction activities as a condition of participation. Services provided by faith organizations must be available to all Pinellas County residents, not solely for congregation members.
8. It is recommended that a representative from the applicant organization attend at least one (1) pre-application technical assistance meeting.
9. The applicant organization must agree to the terms and conditions contained in the Pinellas County Regional Opioid Abatement Funding Agreement. NO EXCEPTIONS to the terms and conditions of the agreement will be permitted.

B. Submission Guidelines

1. Multiple rounds of competitive solicitation may be issued. Specific timelines for application submission for portions of the Priority Plan are detailed herein.
2. Applicants must complete an online application the link will be provided at www.pinellas.gov/humanservices. If this is your first time using the online application, you will be asked to set up a free account.
3. Please note: All materials and supporting documentation included with the application are subject to Florida’s public records law and requirements.
4. The application system will automatically close and late applications will be automatically rejected. Please allow time to reach out for any submission technical issues prior to the deadline.
5. Please complete all the fields. Some questions in the application are limited to a character count.
6. Please provide accurate contact information and the full legal name for your organization, as well as any fictitious names (“doing business as, or DBA”). If funded, legal agreements will be executed using this information.
7. Please be sure to include all required attachments and check to ensure attachments have been uploaded properly. Missing or illegible attachments may be grounds for disqualification.
8. An oral presentation may be requested of any applicant, at the Evaluation Committee’s discretion. If an oral presentation is requested, the written application scoring process shall be utilized to short list proposals. If required as part of the evaluation process, the oral presentation shall be scored as specified in the Scope of Work of the RFP. The most qualified applicant as determined by evaluation process shall proceed with the contracting process.

C. Lobbying

1. Lobbying shall be prohibited on all county competitive selection processes and purchasing contract awards pursuant to this division, including, but not limited to, requests for proposals, requests for quotations, requests for qualifications, bids, or the award of purchasing contracts of any type. The purpose of this prohibition is to protect the integrity of the procurement process by shielding it from undue influences prior to the contract award, or the competitive selection process is otherwise concluded. However, nothing herein shall prohibit a prospective bidder/proposer/protestor from contacting the purchasing department or the county attorney’s office to address situations such as clarification and/or pose questions related to the procurement process.
2. Lobbying of evaluation committee members, county government employees, elected/appointed officials, or advisory board members regarding requests for proposals, requests for quotations, requests for qualifications, bids, or purchasing contracts, by the bidder/proposer, any member of the bidder’s/proposer’s staff, any agent or representative of the bidder/proposer, or any person employed by any legal entity affiliated with or representing a bidder/proposer/protestor, is strictly prohibited from the date of the advertisement, or on a date otherwise established by the board, until either an award is final, or the competitive selection process is otherwise concluded. Any lobbying activities in violation of this section by or on behalf of a bidder/proposer shall result in the disqualification or rejection of the proposal, quotation, statement of qualification, bid or contract.
3. For purposes of this provision, “lobbying” shall mean influencing or attempting to influence action or non-action, and/or attempting to obtain the goodwill of persons specified herein relating to the selection, ranking, or contract award in connection with any request for proposal, request for quotation, request for qualification, bid or purchasing contract through direct or indirect oral or written communication. The final award of a purchasing contract shall be the effective date of the purchasing contract.
4. Any evaluation committee member, county government employee, elected/appointed official, or advisory board member who has been lobbied shall immediately report the lobbying activity to the director.”
5. (Ord. No. 02-35, 5-7-02; Ord. No. 04-64, § 12, 9-21-04; Ord. No. 04-87, § 1, 12-7-04; Ord. No. 10-09, § 6, 2-16-10; Ord. No. 11-23, § 2, 7-26-11; Ord. No. 14-11, § 5, 2-11-14; Ord. No. 18-34, 10-23-18).

IV. Opportunity Overview: Leadership, Planning & Coordination

A. Objective

The County is seeking proposals from qualified consultants/experts to guide and execute an evaluation and gap analysis of the current state of the opioid epidemic and abatement programming in Pinellas County to include specific recommendations, guidance, and examples of best practices for use in competitive solicitations for opioid abatement services.

B. Application Period Timeframe:

The application system will open on October 11, 2023, at 9:00 am, and will close on November 7, 2023, at 4:00 pm.

C. Project Period Timeframe:

The County seeks to have the evaluation completed and final recommendations received within six (6) months of contract execution.

D. Key Dates/Deadlines

E. Technical Assistance Contact

F. Proposal Components:

Proposers should demonstrate and provide written documentation of the following:

1. Organization Qualifications. A detailed summary of proposer qualifications to conduct a gaps analysis of prevention, intervention, and treatment services as indicated herein, including:
   • i. A brief company profile and organizational structure which includes length of time in business and core competencies.
   • ii. Qualifications of the CEO (or equivalent) and qualified professionals that will be assigned to the project.
   • iii. Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in substance use, addiction services, evidence-based treatment modalities, behavioral health service programs, and wraparound services and strategies.
   • iv. Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in conducting gaps analyses for behavioral health service systems of care.
   • v. Description of two (2) similar projects in which the same or similar services were provided to a public sector or government entity, including contact information to verify references.
2. Methodology.
   • i. Considering the Priority List, Attachment 1, Elevate Behavioral Health, and the Opioid Task Force Strategic Plan what is the proposed methodology for evaluation of the identified opioid epidemic abatement strategies and an approach and methodology for conducting a gaps analysis of service interventions for the opioid epidemic in Pinellas County which should include:
     • a. Current service availability and service levels.
     • b. Literature review and identification of best practices.
     • c. Gaps in system services and capacity as compared with local continuum of care and local best practices including prevention, intervention, and treatment modalities and competencies.
     • d. Service alignment and access efficiencies.
     • e. Current level of integration across substance-related crisis care, mental health crisis care, psychiatric health services, somatic health care settings, law enforcement, child welfare, and appropriate level of wraparound services and treatment.
     • f. Collaboration among public service partners including state health authorities, local health department, county government, managing entities and other payors of health services regarding public health and population health management, data sharing, program development, and policy development.
     • g. Challenges, barriers, and impacts to service access and improved outcomes (system, socioeconomic, structural, and other).
     • h. Identification of opportunities to improve system operations, services, system coordination, client care coordination, and positive outcomes (gaps between best and promising practices and current local practices).
     • i. Current approaches that address services from prevention to substance-related crisis care and revolving high-need/high-use clients.
     • j. Best practice recommendations with specific examples of successful models/results.
3. Scope of Services
   • i. Outline of key tasks and activities to be delivered are clearly identified to provide a comprehensive evaluation of opioid epidemic abatement strategies in Pinellas County.
     • a. Outline of key actions/approach taken to complete the gaps analysis/assessment, including, but not limited to, meetings, surveys, information received, anticipated data sources (non-exhaustive), stakeholders contacted and interviewed.
     • b. Estimated length of time for review, including the number of weeks and hours per week, understanding that time is of the essence and the goal if for submission of the final report within six (6) months of contract execution.
     • c. Description of engagement location- including those activities that may be virtual, off-site, on-site, or otherwise.
     • d. Description of the minimum information/material required to begin and complete the work.
   • ii. Description of proposed final work product, which should include, at a minimum, a final written report that fully presents results of the gaps analysis and recommendations for opioid abatement strategies, including integration with current services and improved outcomes, and the following:
     • a. Chart/infographic/service map that clearly shows services, capacity/status, gaps, and opportunities.
     • b. Clear list of recommendations with examples that can be reviewed and explored with key assumptions clearly outlined.
     • c. Recommendations should be inclusive of a risk, impact potential, short-term/long-term strategies, associated timelines, and cost threshold matrix that allows for informed review of possible actions:
       • 1) Recommendation categories/actions
       • 2) Implementation cost range (i.e.: under $500k, $500k-$1M, $1M+)
       • 3) One time or recurring cost
       • 4) Projected impacts/outcomes
       • d. Indication of top recommendations and proposed next steps.
       • e. Additional proposed deliverables outlined during award process.
4. Budget
   • i. Provide a detailed quote to provide the proposed services, including a breakout of staff time by type (i.e., analyst, administrative support, etc.) and estimated hours, supplies, travel-related expenses, and other expenses.
   • ii. 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 the proposer’s expertise in this area.
5. Attachments
   • i. Priority list and Interlocal
   • ii. Opioid Task Force Strategic Plan (2023)
   • ii. Elevate Behavioral Health

G. Mandatory Submittals:

1. Electronic Application
2. Proof of Florida incorporation or registration
3. HIPAA Business Associate Agreement
4. W-9 Form
5. E-Verify Affidavit

H. Evaluation

1. Qualifications (200 points)
2. Methodology (300 points)
3. Statement of Work (350 points)
4. Budget (150 points)