- Title
- TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES
- Bid Type
- RFP
- Pdf Text
- ERIE COUNTY
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
TO PROVIDE
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE
SERVICES
RFP # 2026-048VF
Erie County Department of Mental Health
EDWARD A. RATH COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING
95 FRANKLIN STREET
BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202
COUNTY OF ERIE, NEW YORK
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (“RFP”) # 2026-048VF
TO PROVIDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICES
Contents
I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
II. FUNDING AND BUDGET............................................................................................................................................................... 3
III. PROPOSAL TIMEFRAMES ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 4
V. SCOPE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED .......................................................................................................... 6
PURPOSE AND CONTEXT.................................................................................................................................................................. 6
SCOPE OF SERVICES.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6
VI. COMPENSATION ............................................................................................................................................................................. 9
VII. PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND DATA REPORTING....................................................................................................10
VIII. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS............................................................................................................................................................10
UNDERSTANDINGS ................................................................................................................................................................................10
EVALUATION .............................................................................................................................................................................................11
EVALUATION PROCESS .......................................................................................................................................................................12
CONTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................................................13
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE...............................................................................................................................................13
NON-COLLUSION.....................................................................................................................................................................................13
CONFLICT OF INTEREST......................................................................................................................................................................14
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS ...................................................................................................................................................................14
CONTENTS OF PROPOSAL .................................................................................................................................................................14
ERIE COUNTY EQUAL PAY CERTIFICATION .....................................................................................................................................15
GUIDELINES FOR STANDARD INSURANCE PROVISIONS REQUIRED ....................................................................................16
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................................17
RFP APPENDIX A: Proposal to Provide Service ...................................................................................................................................19
RFP APPENDIX B: Proposal Budget and Budget Narrative................................................................................................................25
RFP APPENDIX C: Supplemental Information.......................................................................................................................................26
RFP APPENDIX D: Additional Documents ..............................................................................................................................................27
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I. INTRODUCTION
The County of Erie, New York (the “County”) is seeking proposals from qualified providers to implement a
clinical service that will coordinate with the Buffalo Police Department (BPD) in responding to behavioral
health related calls for service within the City of Buffalo (the “Services”). The initiative is designed to
deploy licensed clinicians to support real-time, clinically informed responses to individuals experiencing
behavioral health crises.
The Erie County Department of Mental Health (ECDMH) will utilize funding to support up to five (5) full -time
Licensed Mental Health Professionals. As part of a phased pilot implementation, clinicians may be
considered for future designation under New York State Mental Hygiene Law §9.45. Such authority is not
assumed under this RFP and would only be conferred at a later stage upon approval from the Erie County
Director of Community Services. Additionally, the Services will be implemented as a one-year pilot
program within the City of Buffalo, with the potential to be expanded to other local jurisdictions at the
County’s discretion.
Clinicians will function as behavioral health consultants in support of law enforcement response activities.
Their role is to provide clinical assessment and real-time behavioral health guidance to officers responding
to behavioral health related calls for service. Clinicians may assist in identifying appropriate diversion,
referral, and crisis intervention options consistent with the least restrictive and clinically appropriate level of
care. These positions will not provide ongoing case management or longitudinal follow-up services, which
remain within existing system structures.
In responding to this RFP, Proposers must follow the prescribed format as outlined. By so doing, each
Proposer will be providing the County with comparable data, and thus, be assured fair and objective
treatment in the review and evaluation process. It is the County’s intent to select the Proposer that
provides the best solution for the County’s needs.
The County reserves the right to amend this RFP, reject any or all the proposals, or any part thereof,
submitted in response to this RFP, and reserves the right to waive any irregularities or informalities, if such
action is deemed to be in the best interest of the County. The County reserves the right to request
additional information from any Proposer, and to award negotiated contracts to one or more Proposers.
This RFP is not intended and shall not be construed to commit the County to pay any costs incurred in
connection with any proposal or to procure or contract with any firm.
The County will only contract with firms that do not discriminate against employees or applicants for
employment because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual
orientation, citizenship status or any other status protected by New York State and Federal laws.
II. FUNDING AND BUDGET
A total of $500,000.00 is potentially available for the requested clinical services for one year.
The award is subject to annual contract renewal, contingent upon the Proposer’s successful performance
of project objectives and the continued need and desire for such services as articulated by ECDMH. Initial
award and renewals are subject to inclusion of funding in the County Executive Recommended Budget and
as adopted by the Erie County Legislature, as well as contingent upon availability of New York State funds
appropriated for this purpose. All contract appropriations are subject to Legislative approval.
Future awards will be dependent on available funds and subject to the demonstrated fiscal and
programmatic stability of the applicant agency, as well as their meeting all ECDMH requirements.
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III. PROPOSAL TIMEFRAMES
The following schedule is for informational purposes only. The County reserves the right to amend this
schedule at any time.
Issue RFP: July 31, 2026
Submission of Questions: August 5, 2026
ECDMH Response to Questions: August 7, 2026
Proposals Due: August 28, 2026
Selection Made by: September 11, 2026
Final Legislative Approval: October 22, 2026
Contract Signed:
Anticipated State Date:
Following all necessary County approvals
January 1, 2027
IV. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Each proposal shall be prepared simply and economically, avoiding the use of elaborate promotional
materials beyond what is sufficient to provide a complete, accurate and reliable presentation. Proposal
length maximum 12 pages.
2. The proposal shall consist of Appendices A-C and Appendix D, if applicable:
Appendix A
• Proposal to Provide Service
• Signed Schedule A
• For agencies not currently contracted with ECDMH to provide the requested service:
o References and data from similar work
Appendix B
• Signed Fiscal Form
• Budget Forms
Appendix C
• Most recent Audit report prepared by an independent CPA
• Most recent Management Letter
• Listing of Officers and Board of Directors
Failure to follow the prescribed format for responses may result in disqualification. Proposals MUST be
signed using the attached Schedule A: Proposer Certification. Unsigned proposals will be rejected.
Submission of the proposals shall be submitted to:
Erie County Department of Mental Health
Attn: RFP Selection Committee
95 Franklin Street Room 1237
Buffalo, NY 14202.
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3. All proposals must be submitted on or before August 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Regardless of cause,
proposals received after the above date and time will not be considered. Requests for extension will
not be granted. The County is under no obligation to return proposals. One original and five copies
should be included in any mail in submissions.
4. Requests for clarification of this RFP must be written and mailed to Sarah A. Bonk to 95 Franklin Street
Room 1237, Buffalo, NY 14202, or emailed to sarah.bonk@erie.gov no later than 4:00 pm on August
3rd, 2026. A list of questions and answers will be posted on the County website by August 7th, 2026, if
applicable. No communication of any kind will be binding against the County, except for the formal
written responses to any request for clarification.
5. Proposers may be required to give an oral presentation to the County to clarify or elaborate on the
written proposal. Those Proposers will be notified to arrange specific times.
6. No proposal will be accepted from nor any agreement awarded to any Proposer that is in arrears upon
any debt or in default of any obligation owed to the County. Additionally, no agreement will be awarded
to any Proposer that has failed to satisfactorily perform pursuant to any prior agreement with the
County.
7. Information on the Standard Insurance Provisions required of agencies selected as a contractor of this
service is included in this RFP. This document is for informational purposes only and is not to be
submitted by the Proposer for the purposes of this RFP.
8. All potential contract-holders with the County shall agree to comply with Executive Order 13 (2014), and
the Agency shall make such records available, upon request, to the County’s Division of Equal
Employment Opportunity for review. (A copy of Executive Order 13 is available here: Executive Order
13). All contract holders will be required to sign the Erie County Equal Pay Certification (attached).
The County shall have the right, upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, to inspect the books
and records of the Agency, its offices and facilities, for the purpose of verifying information supplied in
the Erie County Equal Pay Certification and for any other purpose reasonably related to confirming the
Agency’s compliance with Erie County Executive Order No. 13 (2014). Violation of the provisions of
Executive Order 13 (2014), which is attached hereto and made a part hereto and made a part hereof,
can constitute grounds for the immediate termination of a contract, and may constitute grounds for
determining that a bidder is not qualified to participate in future county contracts.
9. All potential contract-holders with the County shall agree that administrative costs may not exceed 15%
of the requested funds.
10. Certified Minority Business Enterprise/ Women’s Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Proposers shall
include the Erie County MBE/WBE Certification letter with their proposal.
11. A business that is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) under the New York
State Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act shall include the letter indicating their company is
51% or more veteran-owned with their proposal.
12. All Proposers must disclose the name, title, and department of any employee or officer who is or was
an employee or officer of the County within the 12 months immediately prior to the proposal.
13. If requested, Proposers must provide a list of at least three references from community partners and
collaborators or an individual with knowledge of and experience with the specific services being offered.
14. All Proposers must provide a list of all prime contractors and subcontractors that their agency does
business with related to the service in this RFP.
15. All Proposers must include the name of their Language Access Coordinator. A copy of your Language
Access Policy is required at contracting.
16. All Proposers must include the name of their Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator. A
copy of a written ADA policy is required at contracting.
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V. SCOPE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED
PURPOSE AND CONTEXT
The County is seeking proposals from qualified providers to implement a clinical service that will coordinate
with BPD in responding to behavioral health-related calls for service within the City of Buffalo.
This initiative may support the deployment of up to five (5) full-time Licensed Mental Health Professionals
to provide real-time behavioral health consultation and assessment support to the Buffalo Police
Department’s Behavioral Health Team (“BHT”) during calls for service involving individuals experiencing
behavioral health crises. Clinicians will serve in a behavioral health consultation and support role by
providing assessment, crisis de-escalation support, and real-time clinical guidance to law enforcement
personnel responding to behavioral health-related calls for service. The pilot is intended to support and
enhance existing crisis response capacity within the County’s broader behavioral health system and to
promote safe, least restrictive, and clinically appropriate intervention and disposition planning. This
initiative is informed by findings from the Crisis to Care Collaborative and is consistent with New York State
Mental Hygiene Law §41.13, applicable Office of Mental Health expectations related to coordinated and
least restrictive crisis care, and recognized national standards for trauma-informed, recovery-oriented crisis
response.
As part of phased pilot implementation, clinicians may be considered for future designation under New
York State Mental Hygiene Law §9.45. Such authority is not assumed under this RFP and would only be
considered at a later stage upon approval from the Erie County Director of Community Services.
Additionally, the Services will be implemented as a one-year pilot program within the City of Buffalo, with
the potential to be expanded to other local jurisdictions at the County’s discretion.
This pilot does not include responsibility for ongoing treatment, routine case management, or longitudinal
follow-up, which remain within existing treatment and care coordination systems. Clinicians may support
referral and connection to appropriate community-based services when clinically indicated.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The selected contractor shall implement a response model in which licensed behavioral health
professionals respond in real-time and support specially trained law enforcement personnel responding to
calls involving individuals experiencing mental health or substance use -related crises. The Services shall
include real-time clinical consultation, behavioral health assessment, and crisis de-escalation support.
Proposers should demonstrate the capacity to respond in a developmentally appropriate and age -
responsive manner across the lifespan.
Under this model, law enforcement remains the primary responder to calls for service involving behavioral
health emergencies, with clinicians deployed in a coordinated co-response role to support:
• Crisis triage, screening, and behavioral health/risk assessment
• Field-based de-escalation and crisis stabilization interventions
• Real-time clinical consultation to inform disposition decisions
• Support for diversion from arrest, emergency department utilization, or unnecessary hospitalization
when clinically appropriate
• Immediate crisis safety planning and emergency rescue activation when indicated
• Referral and linkage to community-based support when appropriate
Services shall be delivered consistently with:
• Trauma-informed practices
• Culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate engagement
• Recovery-oriented decision-making
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• Evidence-informed crisis intervention approaches
• Structured quality improvement processes
• Alignment with SAMHSA National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care and applicable New
York State standards
The selected contractor will be responsible for providing its clinicals with transportation to and from calls for
service. Proposers must describe in detail the transportation arrangements, operational capacity, and
contingency planning that will support timely, reliable, and consistent field deployment of staff in response to
service needs. Responses should address, at a minimum, staff access to transportation, deployment
procedures, geographic coverage capacity, response-time considerations, backup transportation
contingencies, and any policies or protocols intended to ensure continuity of f ield response operations during
routine operations, staffing disruptions, vehicle unavailability, or other operational barriers.
Pilot Design and Operational Requirements
The pilot shall operate Monday through Friday during designated program hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Both the Behavioral Health Team (“BHT”) officers and the five (5) clinicians shall work out of the same district
station located at 1345 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14206, to support coordinated field response, real -
time consultation, and integrated operational communication. At minimum, Proposers must ensure that at
least two (2) clinicians are staffed and available for deployment during all designated program operating hours
to support timely response capacity, continuity of operations, and completion of required clinical documentation
and reporting activities.
Clinicians assigned under this initiative shall consist of appropriately licensed mental health professionals
authorized to practice within New York State and capable of operating within behavioral health crisis response
environments. Acceptable disciplines may include, Licensed Master Social Workers (LMSWs), Licensed
Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs), Psychiatric Nurse
Practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, and/or other licensed mental health practitioners operating within
their applicable professional scope of practice.
Clinicians are expected to work full-time schedules totaling forty (40) hours per week, currently anticipated as
four (4) ten-hour shifts scheduled either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday to support
operational coverage needs within the pilot design. No weekend or on-call coverage is required under this
procurement. Initial pilot hours and staffing configurations reflect phased implementation parameters and may
be refined through pilot evaluation, operational learning, service utilization trends, and identified system needs.
Based on publicly available data contained within the Crisis to Care status report, BPD receives an average of
approximately eighteen (18) behavioral-health-related calls for service per day, with the report separately
identifying 6,796 mental-health-related BPD calls during calendar year 2024, averaging approximately 18.6
calls daily. During pilot operating hours, clinicians are expected to provide timely field -based clinical guidance,
behavioral health consultation, risk assessment support, de-escalation assistance and response to requests
originating from BHT personnel and related operational workflows. While clinicians are not expected to
respond to every behavioral-health-related call received by BPD, Proposers should demonstrate the
operational capacity to support fluctuating call volumes, prioritize high -acuity situations, complete required
encounter documentation within established timeframes, and maintain effective collaboration with law
enforcement and community-based service systems throughout pilot operations. When clinicians are not
responding to calls, it will be expected that the office time is spent completing encounter documentation.
BPD shall maintain responsibility for triaging calls for service and prioritizing clinician deployment based on
acuity, safety considerations, and operational need. BPD maintains responsibility and authority for controlling
the scene and has final decision-making authority.
The selected contractor shall ensure clinicians:
• Respond as a field-based clinical resource during behavioral health crisis encounters;
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• Operate safely and effectively in high-acuity response environments;
• Maintain clear communication and collaboration with emergency responders and County oversight ;
and
• Support workforce safety through appropriate training, supervision, and support structures .
Due to the unpredictable nature of behavioral health crisis response, clinicians may be required to remain on
scene or otherwise engaged in response activities beyond their scheduled shift end time. The selected
contractor shall ensure that clinicians remain available through the safe and appropriate conclusion of the
encounter. Proposers shall budget accordingly for anticipated overtime and staffing contingencies within the
maximum contract amount.
The selected contractor shall participate in a quality review structure with ECDMH to support implementation
refinement, operational problem-solving, performance review, and collaborative evolution of the pilot model
over time. Such quality review information may be shared by ECDMH with BPD.
Clinicians assigned under this initiative shall remain employees or contracted personnel of the awarded
provider organization, which retains responsibility for personnel management, administrative supervision, and
clinical supervision.
BPD’s BHT in coordination with and subject to the approval of ECDMH, shall provide day-to-day operational
direction regarding deployment of clinicians and response coordination. Erie County retains authority for
contract oversight, documentation expectations, quality review, and performance monitoring.
Eligible Applicants and Qualifications
Qualified applicants may include organizations or practice entities with demonstrated capacity to provide
behavioral health crisis response or related services, including but not limited to:
• Community-based behavioral health providers
• Hospitals, health systems, or licensed behavioral health treatment organizations
• Nonprofit organizations serving individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or
crisis needs
• Licensed group practices or clinician-led practice entities with sufficient staffing, supervision, and
administrative infrastructure
• Collaborative partnerships or joint proposals among qualified organizations or practice entities
• Other entities able to demonstrate sufficient clinical, operational, fiscal, and risk management capacity
Individual solo practitioners are not eligible to apply independently under this procurement unless participating
in an eligible organizational or group practice applicant. Collaborative proposals, shared staffing models, and
subcontracting approaches may be proposed where sufficient to meet pilot requirements.
Applicants must demonstrate capacity related to:
• Crisis response or high-acuity behavioral health services
• Interdisciplinary and public systems collaboration
• Clinical supervision and workforce support
• Field-based operational readiness
• Data reporting and quality improvement participation
Clinical Governance, Risk, and Documentation
Services must be delivered in a manner that prioritizes safety, role clarity, and legally sound decision -making.
Role Delineation
Clinicians serve as clinical consultants within co-response operations and are responsible for:
• Behavioral health and risk assessment
• Clinical guidance regarding level of care and disposition
• De-escalation and stabilization support
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Responding law enforcement, emergency medical services, and/or fire personnel retain authority over scene
safety, incident command, and enforcement-related decisions. BPD retains authority over all law enforcement
related decisions including MHL §9.41 determinations.
Clinicians shall not be expected to perform law enforcement functions or engage in specialized critical incident
roles outside their scope of practice.
Staffing Requirements
Contractors must ensure clinicians:
• Are licensed and currently registered in New York State
• Are qualified to be considered for future §9.45 designation should the pilot evolve to include that
function
• Demonstrate crisis response and interdisciplinary collaboration experience
• Have appropriate supervision, field support, and workforce safety structures Personnel must meet all
applicable background checks, Justice Center, conflict of interest, and employment eligibility
requirements.
Documentation Standards
Contractors shall maintain clear and accurate documentation of encounters in accordance with County
requirements. Documentation shall be entered into the agency record system and required County reporting
platform within twenty-four (24) hours absent exceptional circumstances.
Documentation must:
• Reflect assessment, decision-making, and actions taken
• Support quality review, audit, and compliance monitoring
• Be made available for County oversight, performance monitoring, and system evaluation
Risk Management
Contractors shall maintain protocols for:
• Reporting critical incidents and safety concerns
• Escalating clinical or operational risks
• Participating in case review, quality improvement, and corrective action processes
Contractors shall maintain appropriate professional and general liability coverage and ensure adequate
supervision and organizational oversight.
VI. Compensation
The Services delivered under this initiative are fully funded through allocations provided to the County via
the New York State Office of Mental Health State Aid Letter and are not eligible for reimbursement through
Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, or other third-party payers.
The selected contractor is prohibited from billing or seeking reimbursement from external funding sources
for services delivered under this contract.
The total proposed budget shall include all costs necessary to operate the pilot, including but not limited to
personnel salaries, fringe benefits, supervision, transportation, administrative expenses, training, and
anticipated overtime (reflected in an overtime budget allowance) associated with response activities that
extend beyond scheduled operating hours. The County will not provide separate reimbursement for
overtime expenses incurred by the contractor outside of the budgeted allotment.
All costs associated with service delivery must be fully represented in the submitted proposal budget and
shall include all staffing & fringe, supervision, transportation, operational, and administrative expenses (not
exceeding 15% of proposed budget) associated with the proposed model.
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VII. PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND DATA REPORTING
The selected contractor shall:
• Submit encounter documentation within twenty-four (24) hours of each response
• Track and report response activity, interventions, and outcomes as specified by the County
• Participate in utilization review, quality improvement, and pilot evaluation activities
• Maintain confidentiality and information security consistent with applicable federal and state
requirements
To the extent feasible, routine performance reporting should utilize aggregate or de -identified data unless
individual-level information is necessary and requested by ECDMH for authorized operational, safety, or
quality oversight purposes.
Required Reporting Metrics:
Operational Measures
• Response volume
• Response times and deployment availability
• Service locations and duration of response
Clinical and Disposition Measures
• Acuity and assessment completion
• Dispositions
• Diversion outcomes
• Referrals and linkages
• Repeat calls for service
Quality Measures
• Documentation compliance
• Staffing levels and vacancies
• Availability of clinicians
• Incident reporting and quality review participation
Experience Measures
• Help-seeker experience/satisfaction
• Referrals or connections to community support, as applicable
ECDMH shall maintain sole responsibility for pilot oversight, quality management, and system-level
evaluation in collaboration with BPD.
VIII. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS
UNDERST ANDINGS
Please take notice, by submission of a proposal in response to this request for proposals, the Proposer
agrees to and understands:
• that any proposal, attachments, additional information, etc. submitted pursuant to this Request for
Proposals constitute merely a suggestion to negotiate with the County and is not a bid under
Section 103 of the New York State General Municipal Law,
• submission of a proposal, attachments, and additional information shall not entitle the Proposer to
enter into an agreement with the County for the required services,
• by submitting a proposal, the Proposer agrees and understands that the County is not obligated to
respond to the proposal, nor is it legally bound in any manner whatsoever by submission of same ,
• that any and all counter-proposals, negotiations or any communications received by a proposing
entity, its officers, employees or agents from the County, its elected officials, officers, employees or
agents, shall not be binding against the County, its elected officials, officers, employees or agents
unless and until a formal written agreement for the services sought by this RFP is duly executed by
both parties and approved by the Erie County Legislature and the Office of the Erie County
Attorney.
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In addition to the foregoing, by submitting a proposal, the Proposer also understands and agrees that the
County reserves the right, and may at its sole discretion, to exercise the following rights and options with
respect to this Request for Proposals:
• To reject any or all proposals,
• To issue amendments to this RFP,
• To issue additional solicitations for proposals,
• To waive any irregularities or informalities in proposals received after notification to Proposers
affected,
• To select any proposal as the basis for negotiations of a contract, and to negotiate with one or more
of the Proposers for amendments or other modifications to their proposals ,
• To conduct investigations with respect to the qualifications of each Proposer ,
• To exercise its discretion and apply its judgment with respect to any aspect of this RFP, the
evaluation of proposals, and the negotiations and award of any contract ,
• To enter into an agreement for only portions (or not to enter into an agreement for any) of the
services contemplated by the proposals with one or more of the Proposers ,
• To select the proposal that best satisfies the interests of the County and not necessarily on the
basis of price or any other single factor,
• To interview the Proposer(s),
• To request or obtain additional information the County deems necessary to determine the ability of
the Proposer,
• To modify dates,
• All proposals prepared in response to this RFP are at the sole expense of the Proposer, and with
the express understanding that there will be no claim, whatsoever, for reimbursement from the
County for the expenses of preparation. The County assumes no responsibility or liability of any
kind for costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any proposal,
• While this is an RFP and not a bid, the County reserves the right to apply the case law under
General Municipal Law § 103 regarding bidder responsibility in determining whether a Proposer is a
responsible vendor for the purpose of this RFP process,
• The County is not responsible for any internal or external delivery delays , which may cause any
proposal to arrive beyond the stated deadline. To be considered, proposals MUST arrive at the
place specified herein and be time-stamped before the deadline.
EVALUAT ION
The following criteria, not necessarily listed in order of importance, will be used to review the proposals.
The County reserves the right to weigh its evaluation criteria in any manner it deems appropriate:
• A determination that the Proposer has submitted a complete and responsive proposal as required
by this RFP.
• Proposers MUST sign the Proposal Certification attached hereto as Schedule “A”. Unsigned
proposals will be rejected.
• The Proposer’s demonstrated capability to provide the services.
• Evaluation of the professional qualifications and experience of pilot staff.
• The Proposer’s experience in performing the proposed services.
• The Proposer’s financial ability to provide the services.
• Evaluation of the Proposer’s fee submission. It should be noted that while price is not the only
consideration, it is an important one.
• An evaluation of the Proposer’s projected approach and plans to meet the requirements of this
RFP.
• Proposers may be required to give an oral presentation to the County to clarify or elaborate on the
written proposal. Any information shared by the Proposer’s presentation will be considered while
scoring.
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• No proposal will be accepted from nor any agreement awarded to any Proposer that is in arrears
upon any debt or in default of any obligation owed to the County. Additionally, no agreement will be
awarded to any Proposer that has failed to satisfactorily perform pursuant to any prior agreement
with the County.
EVALUAT ION PROCESS
Each proposal will undergo an initial administrative review for completeness. In order for a proposal to be
evaluated, it must include all required documents identified within this RFP. At the sole discretion of the
Commissioner, the Department may request missing or clarifying documentation from a Proposer following
the administrative review process. Any requested supplemental documentation must be submitted within
forty-eight (48) hours of request, unless otherwise authorized by ECDMH, for the proposal to remain
eligible for further consideration and potential contract award.
Complete and responsive proposals will be reviewed and scored by an evaluation committee convened by
ECDMH. The evaluation committee shall consist primarily of County representatives and may include
ECDMH employees, representatives from the BPD, individuals with subject matter expertise relevant to
behavioral health crisis response and public systems collaboration, external advisory stakeholders, and/or
individuals with relevant lived experience.
Proposals should be written in a clear and organized manner that sufficiently describes the proposed
services, staffing model, operational approach, implementation strategy, and organizational qualifications
for reviewers who may not be familiar with the Proposer’s organization or specific service delivery model.
ECDMH reserves the right to request clarification, additional information, interviews, presentations, revised
materials, or best and final offers from applicants as part of the evaluation process.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the Proposer’s demonstrated ability to implement and sustain the
pilot model described within this procurement, including operational readiness, clinical capacity,
interdisciplinary collaboration, workforce structure, quality oversight, and overall alignment with the goals of
the initiative.
Evaluation criteria shall include, but not limited to, the following:
Evaluation Category Maximum Points
Overall Proposal Quality and Responsiveness to RFP Requirements 15
Program Design, Operational Approach, and Field Response Model 25
Clinical Staffing Model, Supervision Structure, and Workforce Readiness 15
Experience Providing Crisis Response or Comparable Behavioral Health Services 10
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Public Systems Coordination Capacity 10
Performance Measurement, Data Reporting, and Quality Improvement Approach 10
Cultural Responsiveness, Trauma-Informed Practices, and Accessibility 5
Organizational Capacity and Ability to Implement Services Timely 5
Budget Reasonableness, Cost Effectiveness, and Fiscal Capacity 5
Total Possible Points 100
In evaluating proposals, ECDMH may additionally consider factors including, but not limited to:
• demonstrated experience operating within high-acuity or field-based environments;
• ability to recruit and retain qualified clinical staff;
• existing community partnerships and referral relationships;
• organizational stability and administrative infrastructure;
• responsiveness during the procurement process; and
• overall feasibility of implementation within the proposed timeframe.
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ECDMH reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, negotiate modifications with selected applicants,
make partial awards, request best and final offers, or make no award if determined to be in the best interest
of Erie County.
CONT RACT
After selection of the successful Proposer, a formal written contract will be prepared by the County and will not
be binding until signed by both parties and, if necessary, approved by the Erie County Legislature, the Erie
County Fiscal Stability Authority and the Office of the County Attorney. NO RIGHTS SHALL ACCRUE TO
ANY PROPOSER BY THE FACT THAT A PROPOSAL HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE COUNTY FOR
SUBMISSION TO THE ERIE COUNTY LEGISLATURE AND/OR IF NECESSARY, THE ERIE COUNTY
FISCAL STABILITY AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL. THE APPROVAL OF SAID LEGISLATURE AND/OR
AUTHORITY MAY BE NECESSARY BEFORE A VALID AND BINDING CONTRACT MAY BE EXECUTED BY
THE COUNTY.
The contract will include the terms of this RFP and any subsequent agreement with the Department and
selected contractor. The award period will be for a one-year term, with the option to renew for 3 additional
terms, subject to annual contract renewal, contingent upon the Proposer’s successful implementation of the
pilot, data collection, monitoring, goal attainment, and compliance with required reporting. Initial award and
renewals are subject t
- Page Type
- rfps
- Bid Number
- RFP-purchasing-sites-www3.erie.gov.purchasing-files-2026-07-rfp-2026-048vf-behavioral-health-crisis-response
- Department
- MENTAL HEALTH
- Opening Date
- Friday, August 28, 2026
- Pdf Enriched
- Yes
MENTAL HEALTHIssuing agency·Buffalo, NY·via the Erie County NY Purchasing Department