Texas Health and Human Services



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|ADDENDUM No: 05 |

|for |

|RFP No: HHS0000515 |

| | |

|Date: 2/26/2018 |PCS Purchaser: Diana McIntosh, CTPM |

| |Phone: 512-406-2527 |

| |

|Due Date: 2:00 p.m. Central Time |

|Due Time: MARCH 23, 20218 |

| |

|DESCRIPTION OF THE ADDENDUM: |

| |

|Addendum 05 is issued to provide the following information, clarification or change: |

| |

| |

|This is the complete list of responses to ALL questions received. |

| |

Failure to acknowledge receipt of this addendum may result in response rejection. Respondents may acknowledge receipt by one of the following methods:

1. Sign and return this addendum to HHSC with the solicitation response; or

2. Acknowledge receipt of this addendum on face of your response; or;

3. If response has already been submitted by respondent, respondent may acknowledge receipt by signing and emailing the addendum to the Point of Contact listed in Section 3.5.1 of the RFP prior to solicitation due date and time.

Authorized Signature: Date: ________________

Printed or Typed Name of Authorized Signature: ____________________________________

Business Entity Name: ________________________________________________________

To Rea

|Question 1 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Is the RFA for the grant administrator or for the grants themselves?  It is very hard for us to tell from the RFA.  The Rider 172 language|

|states that the grant administrator will do this for no cost but the RFA says 2 million which is the amount that is supposed to be for the|

|grants so I am confused if the RFA is for the administrator of the actual grants.  If you could clarify that would be great. |

|Response: |

|This RFA, HHS0000515, is soliciting applications for a grant program from Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health |

|Authorities and other nonprofit entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services|

|providers, or expand current capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. The |

|intention is to award $2 million in grants to one or more applicants as a result of this RFA. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. |

|Question 2 |

|Section: 2.4, 2.6, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.6.3, & 2.7 |

|Page Numbers: 8 - 13 |

|Reference: The Rider 172 Primer, published in November 2017, indicated that there would be two competitive procurement processes, |

|however this solicitation appears to include language around the Grant Administrator/TA Center (Section 2.4,  2.6.1, 2.7) and the LMHAs, |

|LBHAs and non-profits (2.4; 2.6.2, 2.6.3). |

|Question: |

|Is this announcement for both or for the Grant Administrator/TA Center? Or just the Grant Administrator/TA Center? |

|Response: |

|RFA HHS0000515 is soliciting applications for a grant program from Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities and|

|other nonprofit entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers, or |

|expand current capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. |

|Question 3 |

|Section: 2.2.1 (building from sections 2.4, 2.6, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.6.3 & 2.7 – all paragraphs) |

|Paragraph: 4 |

|Page Numbers: 7 |

|Reference: The Primer, published in November 2017, indicated that there will be a no-cost agreement with an organization to serve as |

|the administrator of the grant program (Grant Administrator), however the announcement indicates that up to $2,000,000 appropriated.  |

|Question: |

|Does this mean there is funding associated with the Grant Administrator for the RFA? |

|Response: |

|The funding outlined in RFA HHS0000515 is limited to the grant program targeting Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health |

|Authorities and other nonprofit entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services|

|providers, or expand current capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. |

|Question 4 |

|Section: 2.2.1 (building from sections 2.4, 2.6, 2.6.1, 2.6.2, 2.6.3 & 2.7 – all paragraphs) |

|Paragraph: 4 |

|Page Number: 7 |

|Reference: The Primer, published in November 2017, indicated that there will be a no-cost agreement with an organization to serve as |

|the administrator of the grant program (Grant Administrator), however the announcement indicates that up to $2,000,000 appropriated.  |

|Question: |

|Can the Grant Administrator also be a purveyor of training curricula and technical support to the providers and be compensated by the |

|providers to obtain training and implementation support for intensive case management or other rehab services in addition to managing the |

|grants awarded? |

|Response: |

|Yes |

| |

|Question 5 |

|Section: 2.5 (GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS), |

|Paragraph: All paragraphs |

|Page Number: 8 |

|Reference: Tables 1 and 2 indicate that the Grantee is responsible for expanding the capacity of organizations to provide targeted |

|case management and rehab (Table 1) and Table 2 indicates an “Infrastructure to Support Development, Implementation and Training” to |

|include training, technical assistance, consultation and supervision, and assist providers with meeting all Medicaid enrollment |

|qualifications.  These provisions indicate that the GRANTEE would be a TA Center. |

|Question: |

|Is the “Grant Administrator” as identified in the Primer published in November 2017 also intended to serve as a TA Center?  |

|Response: |

|No. The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) will target nonprofit organizations interested in assisting, supporting, and |

|advising HHSC in fulfilling HHSC's responsibilities under 2018-19 General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, 85th Legislature, Regular |

|Session, 2017 (Article II, Health and Human Services Commission, Rider 77 [formerly Rider 172]), as well as assisting grant-funded |

|programs with securing local matching funds. |

|Question 6 |

|Section: 2.5 (GRANTEE REQUIREMENTS), |

|Paragraph: All paragraphs |

|Page Number: 8 |

|Reference: Tables 1 and 2 indicate that the Grantee is responsible for expanding the capacity of organizations to provide targeted case|

|management and rehab (Table 1) and Table 2 indicates an “Infrastructure to Support Development, Implementation and Training” to include |

|training, technical assistance, consultation and supervision, and assist providers with meeting all Medicaid enrollment qualifications.  |

|These provisions indicate that the GRANTEE would be a TA Center. |

|Question: |

|If you are the Grant Administrator and a TA center, can you administer or support just one area of mental health or do you have to support|

|all areas? |

|Response: |

|This RFA, HHS0000515, is not soliciting proposals to become a grant administrator or technical assistance center. The Grant Administrator|

|RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. Please refer to RFP HHS0000516 once posted. |

|Question 7 |

|Section: 2.2.1 |

|Paragraph: 4 |

|Page Number: 7 |

|Reference: The solicitation indicates multiple awards, and eligible applicants are LMHAs, LBHAs or non-profit.  |

|Question: |

|Will there be multiple Grant Administrators/TA centers? |

|Response: |

|RFA HHS0000515 is a grant program targeting Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities and other nonprofit |

|entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers, or expand current |

|capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. HHSC anticipates multiple awards |

|under RFA HHS0000515. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement, and HHSC anticipates only one award under this procurement.|

|Question 8 |

|Section: 2.2.1 |

|Paragraph: 4 |

|Page Number: 7 |

|Reference: The solicitation indicates multiple awards, and eligible applicants are LMHAs, LBHAs or non-profits.  |

|Question: |

|Is HHSC anticipating that a LMHA could be the Grant Administrator/TA Center? |

|Response: |

|No. The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) will target nonprofit organizations interested in assisting, supporting, and |

|advising HHSC in fulfilling HHSC's responsibilities under 2018-19 General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, 85th Legislature, Regular |

|Session, 2017 (Article II, Health and Human Services Commission, Rider 77 [formerly Rider 172]), as well as assisting grant-funded |

|programs with securing local matching funds. |

|Question 9 |

|Section: 2.2.1 |

|Paragraph: 2 |

|Page Number: 7 |

|Reference: The solicitation indicates grantees will need to provide 15% match |

|Question: |

|Do applicants for the Grant Administrator/ TA Center need to demonstrate the 15% match? |

|Response: |

|The RFA HHS0000515 grant program requires contribution of non-state and non-federal cash or in-kind match at an amount equal to or greater|

|than fifteen percent (15%) of the System Agency award amount. |

| |

|The RFP HHS0000516 grant administrator program is a different procurement, and does not require match. |

|Question 10 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (entire table)  & Table 6 (entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11-13 |

|Reference: The performance measures and reports sections of the solicitation indicate training and technical assistance activities, |

|also appear related to a TA center (e.g. number and name of entities who have been credentialed to provide TCM).  |

|Question: |

|Is the Grant Administrator expected to also serve as a TA Center? |

|Response: |

|No. The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) will target nonprofit organizations interested in assisting, supporting, and |

|advising HHSC in fulfilling HHSC's responsibilities under 2018-19 General Appropriations Act, Senate Bill 1, 85th Legislature, 2017, |

|Regular Session (Article II, Health and Human Services Commission, Rider 77 [formerly Rider 172]), as well as assisting grant-funded |

|programs with securing local matching funds. Technical assistance provided under RFP HHS0000516 will be limited to HHSC's |

|responsibilities under the Rider, as well as assisting grant-funded programs with securing local matching funds. |

|Question 11 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (Entire table)  & Table 6 (Entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11-13 |

|Reference: The performance measures and reports sections of the solicitation indicate training and technical assistance activities, |

|also appear related to a TA center (e.g. number and name of entities who have been credentialed to provide TCM).  |

|Question: |

|If the Grant Administrator and the TA center are not the same – can a TA center bid to only provide one public mental health service, or |

|do we have to support all services? |

|Response: |

|The Grant Administrator and Technical Assistance Center are not the same and are unrelated to this procurement. |

|Question 12 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (entire table)  & Table 6 (entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11 – 13 |

|Reference: Table 5: Monthly Report – indicates “The number of children in the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level |

|services who are also receiving targeted case management and rehabilitative service.” |

|Question: |

|Assume this will require data from DFPS, is the state agency willing to share that information with the Grant Administrator/TA center? |

|Response: |

|Agencies awarded funds under RFA HHS0000515 will submit required reports to HHSC and to the Grant Administrator. |

|Question 13 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (entire table)  & Table 6 (entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11 – 13 |

|Reference: Table 5: Monthly Report – indicates “The number of children in the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level |

|services who are also receiving targeted case management and rehabilitative service.” |

|Question: |

|Does DFPS have an IRB similar to HHSC/DSHS Decision Support? |

|Response: |

|Institutional Review Board will not be required for contracts issued under RFA HHS0000515. |

|Question 14 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (entire table)  & Table 6 (entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11 – 13 |

|Reference: Table 5: Monthly Report – indicates “The number of children in the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level |

|services who are also receiving targeted case management and rehabilitative service.” |

|Question: |

|Will the TA organization need to submit approval for the data collection through an IRB? |

|Response: |

|Institutional Review Board will not be required for contracts issued under RFA HHS0000515. |

|Question 15 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: 2, Table 5 (entire table)  & Table 6 (entire table) |

|Page Numbers: 11-13 |

|Reference: Table 5: Monthly Report – indicates “Any investment of funds made by STAR Health…”  This will probably need to come from the|

|MCOs involved in the effort.  |

|Question: |

|Is there a mechanism in place already that matches encounter data billed through the MCOs with the encounter data that LMHAs and LBHAs |

|already submit directly through CMBHS? |

|Response: |

|No |

|Question 16 |

|Section: 5.1.3 |

|Paragraph: 2 |

|Page Number: 24 |

|Reference: The programmatic Narrative (section 5.1.3) Indicates that the application must include “A description of need for TCM and |

|Rehabilitation Services among high-need children in foster care within the local service area“– (seems this would be a provider level |

|description and not one for a TA center |

|Question: |

|How would the Grant Administrator indicate need within a “local service area?” |

|Response: |

|This is not the Grant Administrator procurement. This RFA, HHS0000515, is a grant program targeting Local Mental Health Authorities/Local|

|Behavioral Health Authorities and other nonprofit entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and |

|rehabilitative services providers, or expand current capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children |

|in foster care. Respondents must indicate the need for targeted case management and rehabilitative services for high-need children in |

|foster care in their local service area. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. |

|Question 17 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|When does HHSC anticipate releasing an RFA for the position of Grant Administrator? |

|Per Rider 172, the duties of the Grant Administrator include assisting, supporting, and advising HHSC in implementing and operating the |

|grant program, as well as assist grantees in securing matching funds. |

|Response: |

|HHSC anticipates release of the Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) in the next couple of weeks. |

|Question 18 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|What qualifications are required of potential trainees under the grant? Who is eligible for training? |

|Response: |

|Trainees should be individuals who will provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services. Provider qualification requirements |

|can be found at Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 412, Subchapter I related to Mental Health Case Management, and |

|TAC Title 25, Part 1, Chapter 416, Subchapter A related to Mental Health Rehabilitative Services. These individuals are also required to |

|meet the training requirements for the provision of targeted case management (routine and intensive case management) under the Intensive |

|Service Level of Care 4 for children and adolescent mental health services under the Texas Resilience and Recovery (TRR) service delivery |

|system. This includes training requirements in evidence-based practices for Intensive Case Management and Rehabilitative Services/Skills |

|Training under the Intensive Service Level (LOC-4) under TRR. Individuals who will provide targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services for high need children in foster care Intensive Service Level must also meet the qualifications and credentialing required by |

|Medicaid and Superior STAR Health. |

|Question 19 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|What activities and costs may be included in creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation, and training? |

|Response: |

|Examples of services, activities, and costs associated with creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation, and |

|training includes, but are not limited to: |

|Coordination costs related to training events; |

|Fees associated with contract trainers/consultants to provide training or ongoing technical assistance; |

|Salaries for staff trainers during the training period; |

|Venue costs associated with the provision of training; |

|Costs associated to webinars; |

|Training materials and equipment directly related to the in-person training such as projector and projection screen; |

|Production of materials to support deployment and implementation of the program; |

|Materials and protocols required to implement the evidence-based practices associated to targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services/skills training for children and adolescents; |

|Credentialing, licensing and certification fees associated to the credentialing and training requirements for targeted case management and|

|rehabilitative services; and |

|Provider recruitment costs and provider salaries during the training period. |

| |

|Please reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 20 |

|Section: 2.7 |

|Paragraph: Table 5 |

|Question: |

|Can you clarify the grantees’ role in reporting and what data they will be expected to report? |

|Some of the information referenced Section 2.7, Table 5, would be very challenging for individual grantees to access, particularly on a |

|monthly basis. For instance, it is unlikely that a grantee would be able to reasonably gather information on “the number of children in |

|the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level services who are also receiving targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services, both pre and post-training, technical assistance, consultation and/or supervision.” |

| |

|Similarly, determining “any investment of funds made by STAR Health designed to assist in expediting services to high-need children in the|

|foster care system” would be difficult for individual grantees to accomplish monthly. This seems more appropriate for the agency or the |

|Grant Administrator to report on. |

|Response: |

|Grantees are responsible to report to the Grant Administrator and HHSC the following information: |

|The number of children in the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level services who are also receiving targeted case management |

|and rehabilitative services from the providers trained by the grantee. High need children in foster care have Medicaid STAR Health. |

|Trained providers are expected to report to the Grantee the number of children they provide targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services/skills training during the grant period. |

|The number of providers that receive training, technical assistance, consultation and/or supervision to develop the capacity to provide |

|targeted case management and rehabilitative services. |

|The number of training, technical assistance, consultation and/or supervision events provided. |

|The number and name of entities and/or providers who have been credentialed to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services for high need children in foster care receiving Intensive Service Level or higher. |

|The number and name of entities who have expanded services and their internal capacity to provide targeted case management and |

|rehabilitative services for high-needs children in foster care in the Intensive Service Level. |

|Question 21 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Can you specify whether grant funding can be used to hire employees and/or pay salaries for trainers, etc.? |

|Response: |

|Examples of services, activities, and costs associated with creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation, and |

|training includes, but are not limited to: |

|Coordination costs related to training events; |

|Fees associated with contract trainers/consultants to provide training or ongoing technical assistance; |

|Salaries for staff trainers during the training period; |

|Venue costs associated with the provision of training; |

|Costs associated to webinars; |

|Training materials and equipment directly related to the in-person training such as projector and projection screen; |

|Production of materials to support deployment and implementation of the program; |

|Materials and protocols required to implement the evidence-based practices associated to targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services/skills training for children and adolescents; |

|Credentialing, licensing and certification fees associated to the credentialing and training requirements for targeted case management and|

|rehabilitative services; and |

|Provider recruitment costs and provider salaries during the training period. |

| |

|Please reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 22 |

|Section: Exhibit E |

|Reference: Budget instruction page below references a separate Excel file with examples and instructions for completing the form. |

|Question: |

|I did not find such a file in the RFA. Please either provide those instructions or where they can be found. |

|Response: |

|Exhibit E Budget is embedded within RFA HHS0000515. Please see the excel file located on page 70. |

|Question 23 |

|Section: Exhibit E |

|Reference: Budget |

|Question: |

|The match instructions note we can include in-kind. The page for match in Exhibit E has a page for volunteers’ time, but not a place for |

|existing staff the Agency employs. Can we use a share of an existing staff’s salary as in-kind contribution? |

|Response: |

|The contribution of existing staff time would not be considered in-kind match if the existing staff are paid using non-state and |

|non-federal funds and provide support for the deployment of the program as a function of their position during normal working hours. The |

|contribution of their paid time would be considered cash match because the agency is paying the existing staff member with allowable |

|non-grant funds to satisfy grant requirements. Please reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant |

|funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 24 |

|Section: Exhibit E |

|Reference: Budget |

|Question: |

|If we have additional questions while completing the budget forms (or other forms) are we able to ask questions after February 2, 2018? |

|Response: |

|Yes |

|Question 25 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|It’s unclear to me if this RFA is for the administrator or for the provider grants. In reading the information released in November 2017, |

|I understood there would be an RFA for the administrator of the grants and an RFA for the provider grants.  And, I anticipated the |

|administrator RFA first, as per page 3 of the information packet released in November.   Can you please clarify if this RFA is for the |

|provider grants or for the administrator?  It appears that this RFA is for the provider grants, if so, should providers expect the |

|administrator to release another RFA?  |

|Response: |

|RFA HHS0000515 is a grant program targeting Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities and other nonprofit |

|entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers, or expand current |

|capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. |

| |

|The Grant Administrator RFP (i.e., RFP HHS0000516) is a different procurement. |

|Question 26 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Will grants be awarded statewide or by regions?  If so, will there be a certain number of grantees per region?  |

|Response: |

|Grants will be awarded based upon final funding decisions based on eligibility, geographic distribution across the state, state |

|priorities, reasonableness, availability of funding, and cost-effectiveness. HHSC does not anticipate a certain number of grantees per |

|region. |

|Question 27 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Will community providers be able to define their coverage area or will the coverage areas be defined or specified by the State and/or |

|administrator?  |

|Response: |

|Community providers are able to define their service area. |

|Question 28 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|If awarded, would a child placing agency provider be required to serve children outside of their foster care network? |

|Response: |

|No. |

|Question 29 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|For entities expanding services, what specifically does the funding cover – training, salaries?  |

|Response: |

|Examples of services, activities, and costs associated with creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation, and |

|training includes, but are not limited to: |

|Coordination costs related to training events; |

|Fees associated with contract trainers/consultants to provide training or ongoing technical assistance; |

|Salaries for staff trainers during the training period; |

|Venue costs associated with the provision of training; |

|Costs associated to webinars; |

|Training materials and equipment directly related to the in-person training such as projector and projection screen; |

|Production of materials to support deployment and implementation of the program; |

|Materials and protocols required to implement the evidence-based practices associated to targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services/skills training for children and adolescents; |

|Credentialing, licensing and certification fees associated to the credentialing and training requirements for targeted case management and|

|rehabilitative services; and |

|Provider recruitment costs and provider salaries during the training period. |

| |

|Please reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 30 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|The information in the November packet indicate that Rider 172 says the funds must be used to pay for costs directly related to |

|developing, implementing, and training teams to provide TCM and MH Rehab.  Does this include startup such as hiring FTE/staff?  |

|Clarification about what funding will pay for as “startup” is appreciated.  |

|Response: |

|Provider recruitment, provider salaries during the training period, and salaries for trainers are an acceptable use of funds. Please |

|reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 31 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Some of the performance measures in Section 2.7 will be difficult for an individual provider to be able to report on (may be more |

|applicable to the grant administrator), such as:  the number of providers that receive training, the number of entities who have been |

|credentialed, investment of funds by STAR Health, etc.  |

|Response: |

|The Grantee is expected to develop an infrastructure to support the development, training, and implementation of targeted case management |

|and rehabilitative providers or individuals seeking to become providers of these services to serve high need children in foster care. |

|Therefore, Grantees are responsible to report to the Grant Administrator and HHSC the following information: |

|The number of children in the foster care system receiving Intense Service Level services who are also receiving targeted case management |

|and rehabilitative services from the providers trained by the grantee. High need children in foster care have Medicaid STAR Health. |

|Trained providers and credentialed entities trained by the Grantee are expected to report to the Grantee the number of children they |

|provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services/skills training during the grant period. |

|The number of providers that receive training, technical assistance, consultation and/or supervision to develop the capacity to provide |

|targeted case management and rehabilitative services. |

|The number of training, technical assistance, consultation and/or supervision events provided. |

|The number and name of entities and/or providers who have been credentialed to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services for high need children in foster care receiving Intensive Service Level or higher. |

|The number and name of entities who have expanded services and their internal capacity to provide targeted case management and |

|rehabilitative services for high-needs children in foster care in the Intensive Service Level. |

|Question 32 |

|Reference: General Question |

|Question: |

|Is this RFA opportunity for the purpose of funding LMHAs to train other entities to provide Case Management and Rehab to high need foster |

|care children or an opportunity for LMHAs to secure funds to hire QMHPs to provide Case Management and Rehab to high need foster care |

|kids? |

|Response: |

|RFA HHS0000515 is a grant program targeting Local Mental Health Authorities/Local Behavioral Health Authorities and other nonprofit |

|entities that are making investments to either become targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers, or expand current |

|capacity to provide targeted case management and rehabilitative services to children in foster care. Funds awarded under RFA HHS0000515 |

|are to be used to create an infrastructure that directly supports development, implementation and training of providers, or teams of |

|providers. Examples of services, activities, and costs associated with creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation,|

|and training includes, but are not limited to: |

|Coordination costs related to training events; |

|Fees associated with contract trainers/consultants to provide training or ongoing technical assistance; |

|Salaries for staff trainers during the training period; |

|Venue costs associated with the provision of training; |

|Costs associated to webinars; |

|Training materials and equipment directly related to the in-person training such as projector and projection screen; |

|Production of materials to support deployment and implementation of the program; |

|Materials and protocols required to implement the evidence-based practices associated to targeted case management and rehabilitative |

|services/skills training for children and adolescents; |

|Credentialing, licensing and certification fees associated to the credentialing and training requirements for targeted case management and|

|rehabilitative services; and |

|Provider recruitment costs and provider salaries during the training period. |

| |

|Please reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 33 |

|Section: Section 2.5 and 2.6 Grantee Requirements and Program Requirements |

|Paragraph: Table 1 and Table 2 |

|Page Number: 8 |

|Reference: Requirements for Grantee and Program |

|Question: |

|To become targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers for children and youth, responding organizations will need to |

|make investments by hiring new staff as part of the development and implementation of the new capacity. These provider organizations will|

|not be able to receive any reimbursement for services to cover these staff costs until they are trained and credentialed then they will |

|also need to gradually increase their caseloads over a multi-week period, so there are significant staff costs that will not be able to be|

|covered by program revenue and that will prohibit expansion unless covered by the grant. Are these investments to develop and implement |

|new teams an acceptable use of grant funds? |

|Response: |

|Provider recruitment, provider salaries during the training period, and salaries for trainers are an acceptable use of funds. Please |

|reference Section 2.8 Prohibitions for services, activities, and costs that grant funding cannot be used to support. |

|Question 34 |

|Section: None provided |

|Paragraph: None provided |

|Page Number: None provided |

|Reference: None provided |

|Question: |

|I need a clarification regarding the contract, what is this 15% contribution from the grantee, is that like a good faith deposit, like a |

|warranty amount that stays in the account or is that a contribution from the grantee?  |

|Response: |

|HHSC requires award recipients to contribute an amount equal to or greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the HHSC award amount. This |

|contribution must be comprised of the expenditure of non-federal and non-state sourced funding and/or the monetary value associated with |

|the use of non-federal and non-state sourced in-kind match (e.g., contribution of goods, services, or volunteer time) on project |

|costs/activities. |

|Question 35 |

|Section: None provided |

|Paragraph: None provided |

|Page Number: None provided |

|Reference: None provided |

|Question: |

|I have reviewed the email from Delayne D. Williams and since all contact is limited to you, please advise if I can call you or just email |

|you for any further clarifications! |

|Response: |

|Per RFP Section 3.4.1 Point of Contact |

|All requests, questions or other communication about this Solicitation shall be made in writing to the System Agency's Point of Contact |

|addressed to the person listed below. All communications between Respondents and other System Agency staff members concerning the |

|Solicitation are strictly prohibited, unless noted elsewhere in this RFA. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in |

|disqualification of Respondent's Solicitation Response. |

| |

|Name: Diana C. McIntosh, CTPM |

|Title: Procurement Project Manager |

|Address: 1100 W 49th Street MC 2020, Austin, TX 78756 |

|Phone: 512-406-2527 |

|Email: Diana.Mcintosh@hhsc.state.tx.us |

|Question 36 |

|Section: 2.2.1 |

|Paragraph: 1 |

|Page Number: 7 |

|Reference: Text of Passage: “match equal to or greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the System Agency award amount “ |

|Question: |

| Is this match amount an advance from grantee and will be reimbursed to grantee upon invoicing under Sec. 2.3 "Monthly invoices" |

|Response: |

|HHSC requires award recipients to contribute an amount equal to or greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the HHSC award amount. This |

|contribution must be comprised of the expenditure of non-federal and non-state sourced funding and/or the monetary value associated with |

|the use of non-federal and non-state sourced in-kind match (e.g., contribution of goods, services, or volunteer time) on project |

|costs/activities. |

|Question 37 |

|Section: 2.4 |

|Paragraph: 1 |

|Page Number: 8 |

|Reference: Text in Question: Eligible Applicants are Local Mental Health Authorities, Local Behavioral Health Authorities, or |

|non-profit entities |

|Question: |

|We are a For Profit Organization planning to organize as a local behavioral health (LBH) authority; Please provide any further eligibility|

|constraints.  |

|Response: |

|For Profit Organizations are not eligible for award under RFA HHS0000515. Eligible Applicants are Local Mental Health Authorities and |

|Local Behavioral Health Authorities (i.e., local governmental entities), and non-profit entities. |

|Question 38 |

|Section: 2.6 |

|Paragraph: Program Requirements |

|Page Number: |

|Reference: Text under 2.6.1 through 2.6. |

|Question: |

| Can we, as grantee limit our program offering to Table 3 "Targeted Case Management Services (TCM-0001, and TCM-004) alone, as we will not|

|be interested in Sec 2.6.1 "Infra Structure Development, ISDIT-001 through ISDIT-003, nor to TCM-002, TM-003)? |

|Response: |

|No. Proposals submitted under RFA HHS0000515 must support targeted case management and rehabilitative services. |

|Question 39 |

|Section: 3.1 |

|Paragraph: Schedule of Events |

|Page Number: 16 |

|Reference: Deadline for Submission |

|Question: |

|Will the deadline for submission be extended? |

|Response: |

|Yes, Section 3.1, Schedule of Events, is revised as follows: |

|EVENT |

|DATE/TIME |

| |

|Solicitation Release Date |

|January 25, 2018 |

| |

|Respondent Conference |

|January 30, 2018 |

| |

|Deadline for Submitting Questions |

|February 2, 2018 |

| |

|Answers to Questions Posted |

|March 2, 2018 |

| |

|Deadline for submission of Solicitation Responses [NOTE: Responses must be RECEIVED by HHSC by the deadline.] |

|March 23, 2018 |

|April 23, 2018 (Contingent on the continued availability of grant funding) |

|May 23, 2018 (Contingent on the continued availability of grant funding) |

| |

|Anticipated Contract Start Date |

|May 1, 2018 |

| |

|Question 40 |

|Section: 5.1.2 |

|Paragraph: Corporate Background and Experience |

|Page Number: 23 |

|Reference: Sub-Item #2 |

|Question: |

|This item instructs respondents to “provide a key staffing profile and resumes for staff who will be responsible for the performance of |

|the services requested under this solicitation. Respondent must provide job descriptions, duties, and experience requirements (vacant or |

|otherwise).” Can you provide several examples of which staff HHSC expects respondents to include in this key staffing profile?  We are |

|trying to determine if HHSC is looking for CEO, ED, CFO level staff only (staff who have ultimate responsibility for program performance) |

|or if HHSC also expects respondents to indicate Program Director, Supervisors, and other direct care level positions. |

|Response: |

|HHSC does not require inclusion of organization management/oversight (e.g., chief executive officer) job profiles. Include job profiles |

|only for key staff members directly involved with creating the infrastructure to support development, implementation, and training of |

|targeted case management and rehabilitative services providers. |

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HHS Procurement and Contract Services

RFP ADDENDUM

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