On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Jan 20, 2026
Due:	Mar 3, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	Q - Medical Services
Solicitation No:	SOPSCHK27002
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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SOPSCHK27002

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)

On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

SOPSCHK27002

Page 1 of 36

Form Date 6/24/20

Katelyn Meyers

1251 West Cedar Loop

Cherokee, IA 51012

Phone: 712-225-6950

katelyn.meyers@hhs.iowa.gov

SOPSCHK27002

On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

RFP Purpose.

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals that will enable the Department of Health and Human

Services (Agency) to select the most qualified Contractor to provide On-Call Week Night and Weekend

coverage for psychiatric patients of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute. The Agency intends to award

a contract to a maximum of two (2) bidders.

Duration of Contract.

The Agency anticipates executing a contract that will have an initial 1-year contract term with the ability

to extend the contract for 5 additional 1-year terms. The Agency will have the sole discretion to extend

the contract.

Bidder Eligibility Requirements.

The Agency will only consider proposals for contract award from Bidders who currently maintain

licensure in accordance with the State of Iowa as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or a Physician

Assistant with at least one year of relevant training and/or experience in psychiatric care.

Procurement Timetable

There are no exceptions to any deadlines for the Bidder; however, the Agency reserves the right to

change the dates. Times provided are in Central Time.

Event

Agency Issues RFP Notice to Targeted Small Business Website (48

hours):

Agency Issues RFP to Bid Opportunities Website

Bidder Letter of Intent to Bid Due By

Bidder Written Questions Due By

Agency Responses to Questions Issued By

Bidder Proposals and any Amendments to Proposals Due By

Agency Announces Apparent Successful Bidder/Notice of Intent to

Award

Contract Negotiations and Execution of the Contract Completed

Date

January 20, 2026

January 22, 2026

February 3, 2026

2:00 p.m.

February 10, 2026

2:00 p.m.

February 17, 2026

March 3, 2026

2:00 p.m.

March 24, 2026

June 30, 2026

Anticipated Start Date for the Provision of Services

July 1, 2026

Page 2 of 36

Form Date 6/24/20

SOPSCHK27002

On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

Section 1 Background and Scope of Work

1.1 Background.

The Agency's Cherokee Mental Health Institute (CMHI) in Cherokee, Iowa is a state-operated acute

psychiatric hospital in the Division of State-Operated Specialty Care serving persons with mental illness

including specialized treatment and security for adults ordered by the court into the custody of the state

for the purposes of competency restoration, adults who have been acquitted of a crime by reason of

insanity, and similarly situated adults at a mental health institute. The Facility is accredited by The Joint

Commission, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and licensed by the

Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to provide acute specialty hospital

care.

CMHI is a thirty-six (36) bed psychiatric hospital with inpatient programs for adult psychiatric and

forensic patients serving the entire state of Iowa. Many of our patients are suffering from severe and

persistent mental illnesses which respond, in most cases, to psychotropic medications. Every patient

has an individualized treatment plan that includes assessment and therapy from an array of

professional specialties. This Facility is staffed to provide continuous around-the-clock support to

patients.

In recent years, the Agency has utilized contracted Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners and Physicians

Assistants to cover one Weekend of On-Call coverage every four (4) to eight (8) weeks. Additional

coverage may be requested, if available, in the event that an extended absence of a permanent

employee is expected.

1.2 RFP General Definitions.

When appearing as capitalized terms in this RFP, including attachments, the following quoted terms

(and the plural thereof, when appropriate) have the meanings set forth in this section.

“Agency” means the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.

“Bid Proposal” or “Proposal” means the Bidder’s proposal submitted in response to the RFP.

“Bidder” means the entity that submits a Bid Proposal in response to this RFP.

“Contractor” means the Bidder who enters into a Contract as a result of this Solicitation.

“Deliverables” means all of the services, goods, products, work, work product, data (including data

collected on behalf of the Agency), items, materials and property to be created, developed, produced,

delivered, performed, or provided by or on behalf of, or made available through, the Contractor (or any

agent, contractor or subcontractor of the Contractor) in connection with any contract resulting from this

RFP.

“Invoice” means a Contractor’s claim for payment. At the Agency’s discretion, claims may be

submitted on an original invoice from the Contractor or may be submitted on a claim form accepted by

the Agency, such as a General Accounting Expenditure (GAX) form.

"On-Call" means the Contractor is available by phone and able to respond during designated hours.

"On-Duty" means the Contractor is providing services on-site in-person at the Cherokee Mental Health

Institute, located at 1251 West Cedar Loop, Cherokee, Iowa 51012.

"State-Paid Holiday" means coverage from 4:30 p.m. on the day preceding the holiday through 8:00

Page 3 of 36

Form Date 6/24/20

SOPSCHK27002

On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

a.m. on the day following the holiday on specified State Holidays as listed at https://das.iowa.gov/state-

employees/state-accounting/centralized-payroll/state-holidays.

"Week Night" means coverage from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on the following day, Monday through

Friday.

"Weekend" means coverage from 4:30 p.m. Friday through 8:00 a.m. on the following Monday.

1.3 Scope of Work.

1.3.1 Deliverables.

1.3.1.1 On-Call Telephone Availability

During periods of scheduled On-Call coverage the Contractor shall be available by telephone at all

times, or return missed phone calls within five (5) minutes of missing a phone call from an Agency

employee. The Contractor shall furnish their own device and provide an active phone number where

they may be reached by the Agency.

1.3.1.2 On-Duty Availability

During periods of scheduled On-Call coverage the Contractor shall be available to be On-Duty within

twenty (20) minutes of being called by an Agency employee when, based on accepted medical practice

guidelines, it is determined that immediate medical or psychiatric attention or support is required.

1.3.1.3 Psychiatric Support

The Contractor shall:

1. Provide psychiatric support services in a collaborative effort with the Agency’s clinical director,

medical director, and/or medical staff regarding establishment of psychiatric diagnoses,

providing additional assistance and consultation as deemed necessary by the Agency.

2. Provide complete and detailed documentation of patient encounters in the medical record.

3. Conduct in-person patient rounds at least once per day for any calendar day in which On-Call

coverage is scheduled for at least sixteen (16) consecutive hours.

1.3.1.4 Licensing and Agency Compliance

The Contractor shall:

1. Maintain licensure in the State of Iowa for the duration of any contract awarded, including all

extensions.

2. Provide copies of professional license(s) and any supporting and relevant documents requested

by the Agency for the purpose of granting privileges. Due to the length of time required to

complete privileging, the Contractor shall perform the work described themselves or name a

maximum of two (2) individuals that may be assigned to complete work described under any

contract awarded. The individuals named by the Contractor may be reassigned a maximum of

once per contract year.

3. Provide evidence of continuing education earned by all individuals performing work on behalf of

the Contractor, as applicable.

4. Ensure that all personnel performing services under any contract awarded will comply with the

Agency’s health, safety, and infection control policies and procedures to the extent deemed

necessary by the Agency, including, but not limited to, vaccination and immunization

requirements set forth in HHS policies MED-220 and 22-06 C, incorporated herein by reference,

as amended. Compliance shall be a condition of performing services.

5. Ensure that all personnel performing services under any contract awarded will remain in

compliance with the standard confidentiality requirements as well as Agency policies and

procedures, including any training deemed relevant to the Contractor by the Agency.

Page 4 of 36

Form Date 6/24/20

SOPSCHK27002

On-Call Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant

6. Ensure all Agency issued keys remain secure and are returned to the designated KeyWatch

system upon completion of duties. Keys shall not be removed from the Facility or taken home.

1.3.2 Performance Measures.

The Contractor shall meet or exceed the following performance measures:

1. Be available for 100% of scheduled On-Call coverage shifts.

2. Respond to phone calls within five (5) minutes 98% of the time.

3. Arrive at the Facility within twenty (20) minutes of notification of any immediate medical or

psychiatric event 98% of the time.

4. Complete in-patient rounds 100% of days required.

1.3.3 Agency Responsibilities.

The Agency shall make limited accommodations available to the Contractor during scheduled periods

of On-Call coverage. Accommodations include access to a private room with a bed and linens, and a

bathroom with toilet, shower, and sink. Toilet paper and hand soap are provided. All other toiletries and

hygiene items will not be provided. The Contractor is not required to use these accommodations.

1.3.4 Contract Payment Methodology.

The Contractor shall be paid at a rate per hour of On-Call coverage and a rate per hour of On-Duty

services. If at any time the Contractor is out of compliance with the Performance Measures of this

agreement, the Agency may withhold ten percent (10%) of invoices until the Contractor is back in

compliance. The withholds will be released upon acceptance of work performed.

Page 5 of 36

Form Date 6/24/20

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.