The Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Orange County Florida, is soliciting sealed proposals to provide Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder Outpatient and Residential Treatment Services to eligible Ryan White Part A clients in the Orlando Eligible Metropolitan Area (EMA). Funding for these services comes from Part A of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The Grantee for the Orlando EMA, which is composed of Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole Counties, is the Orange County Mayor. The Orange County Health Services Department is the department designated by the Mayor to administer the grant. Following submission of proposals, recommendations will be submitted to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. The funding amounts for the proposals requested in this Request for Proposal (RFP) are based on current levels of funding received by the Orlando EMA from HRSA. Actual funding levels will be established when HRSA awarded funds for fiscal year 2022-2023 are identified, and awards will be increased or decreased to match actual funding available. The estimated number of clients serviced annual in Orlando EMA is over 5,000 clients. 

The Orlando EMA seeks to follow HRSA's seven (7) guiding principles in its operation:

• Improve access to health care
• Improve Health Outcomes
• Improve the quality of health care
• Eliminate health disparities Improve the public health care system
• Enhance the ability of the health care system to respond to health emergencies
• Achieve excellence in management practices, Standards of Care, and funding for these services are guided by the Central Florida HIV Planning Council

The County is seeking proposers that demonstrates the capacity to offer services to people living with HIV/ADIS in accordance with HRSA and Orlando EMA guidelines. Proposer(s) shall maintain an overall philosophy that HIV infection is a chronic illness in which, with proper management, the consumer's quality of life can in many cases be improved and maintained over an extended period of time.  Proposer(s) shall maintain a consumer driven model of care and strive to eliminate the disproportionate effect of the epidemic on minority communities. Proper(s) shall maintain and promote accountability, quality, consumer and cultural sensitivity/proficiency, and coordinated and integrated care. The services included in this RFP shall be provided with priority to underserved, medically indigent individuals with HIV, and who after proper screening for eligibility under other benefits programs, do not qualify fully/or partially to receive these services outside of Ryan White Part A. Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 funding monies of last resort. No cash shall be provided to consumers. It is the purpose and intent of this RFP to secure providers capable of service provision in Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole Counties. Proposer(s) shall demonstrate a capability to serve consumers from a geographic area beyond that of a local neighborhood, and to do so in keeping with the cultural/ethic sensitivities of the population(s) to be served. Furthermore, special attention shall be given to underserved populations for example, low-income uninsured  and medically indigent individuals, and families, including women and children, communities of color, particularly the African American, Caribbean, Black, and Hispanic communities, pediatric, homeless populations, migrant from worker, adolescents, men who have sex with men, hemophiliacs, and persons affected by chemical dependency. In addition, proposers must meet the agency eligibility requirement listed below and must be able to perform the service category (ies) in which they are applying to for eligibility.  Proposer must:

•  Ability to provide Psychosocial Support Services
• Not-for-Profit status: Proposals will only be accepted from public or private not profit health and for-profit Health Service providers. Ryan White Part A  Program funds may not be awarded to private for-profit entities, unless such entities are the "only available provider of quality HIV care in the area" (SEC 2604 (B)(2)(A), SEC 2613(A)(1)]. Private not-for-profit service providers shall show proof of such status by submitting, as part of the proposal, appropriate documentation. Not-for-profit corporations shall include a copy of their letter of determination. 
• If a nonprofit organization, hold current and valid state 501 (c)(3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Services. 
• Demonstrate a minimum of one  (1) year experience in providing Psychosocial support services to people with HIV. 
• Maintain proper documentation in accordance to the grant guidelines and Scope of Services. 
• Ability to proceed and provide one (1) year of service Provide services in the metropolitan areas (Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole County)
• Demonstrate accountability through the submission of acceptable financial audit or statement performed by an independent auditor
• If Proposers are awarded Ryan White Part A Funding, must maintain contractual liability insurance or be self-insured if a state local government or instrumentally of state or local government
• Active Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the State of Florida Active Unique Identifier and register with SAM at: www.sam.gov
• Register with E-Verify at: www.e-verify.gov

Proposers must provide Psychosocial Support Services to be eligible for award. In addition, Proposers must provide services to following counties Orange, Osceola, Lake, and Seminole Counties. Orange County Health Services Department website from Friday, January 13, 2023 through Friday, January 20, 2023 with an anticipate start date March 1, 2023. For more information and the Award Posting,  please visit the link listed below.

https://www.ocfl.net/familieshealthsocialsvcs/hiv/fundingopportunities.aspx

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.