Tele-Behavioral Health
| Location: | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Oct 13, 2025 |
| Due: | Nov 14, 2025 |
| Agency: | State of Wisconsin - Department of Health Services |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
Tele-Behavioral Health
RFA = Request for Application
RFB = Request for Bid
RFI = Request for Information
RFP = Request for Proposal
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications from behavioral health providers for funding to:
- Expand opportunities for people to access tele-behavioral health services.
- Reduce the technology and location barriers that exist for many people to access tele-behavioral health services.
- Reduce disparities in access to behavioral health care for underserved populations.
Tele-behavioral health can maintain continuity of care and preserve the patient-provider relationship when in-person visits are not possible. It can also fill gaps in access to behavioral health care caused by shortages of providers.
Wisconsin Medicaid updated its policies during the COVID-19 pandemic to allow Medicaid members to receive telehealth services from an originating site (see
ForwardHealth Topic #22739
). An originating site is defined as where the patient or member is located, including a home, pharmacy, homeless shelter, assisted living provider, and/or school (previously, only hospitals, nursing homes, and physician offices were designated as originating sites for care)
Some communities still face barriers in accessing tele-behavioral health services. Access to technology and broadband can present barriers for certain populations, including older adults, the economically disadvantaged, and people who live rural areas.
DHS is addressing these barriers by funding behavioral health care providers who provide or plan to provide services in areas of Wisconsin that lack behavioral health care. Agencies awarded grants under this under this funding opportunity must partner with non-traditional sites to establish tele-behavioral access hubs. Non-traditional sites include schools, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, public libraries, community centers, homeless shelters, food pantries, and other publicly accessible locations in underserved areas. Grant funds can be used to purchase technology for the provider and non-traditional site, install and maintain internet service, support for using the technology, and remodel spaces.
Eligible applicants
- Nonprofit and for-profit organizations doing business in Wisconsin
- Agencies from federally recognized Tribal nations in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin county agencies
- Federally qualified health centers located in Wisconsin
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
November 14, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
Up to four awards
Estimated award amount(s)
Up to $50,000 per recipient
Total funding available
$200,000
Anticipated length of funding opportunity
One year with no opportunity for renewal or carryover of funds to another year
Anticipated contract dates
January 1, 2026-September 30, 2026
Match requirement
None
Funding source
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) treasury funds
Written questions due
October 24, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov . Use Tele-Behavioral Health as the subject line.
Answers posted
October 28, 2025 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
December 1, 2025 (estimated)
Award statementAward(s) will be made to responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:
- Attains the highest scored application.
- Best meets the needs of the population of focus.
- Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.
Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section. There is a five-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.
Applications must also include the following additional documents:
- IRS Form W-9 (PDF) .
- DCTS Summary Line item Budget: Condensed, F-01601C (Excel)
- Letters of commitment (required from each project partner with an active role in the program)
- Organizational chart(s)
The additional documents do not count toward the five-page narrative response page limit.
Application scoring rubricApplications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale listed below. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.
- Program design: 15 points
- Capacity: 15 points
- Experience and knowledge: 15 points
- Sustainability: 5 points
- Required documents: 20 points
-
Grant priorities: 30 points
- Priority area 1: 15 points
- Priority area: 2 15 points
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- Use a page size of 8.5” x 11”
- Use a font size no smaller than 11-point
The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.
Maximum points available for this section: 15
Describe how the program requirements will be met.
-
How this funding will address the three intended outcomes:
- Expand opportunities for consumers to access tele-behavioral health services.
- Reduce the technology and location barriers that exist for many consumers to access tele-behavioral health services.
- Reduce disparities in access to behavioral health care for underserved populations.
- A description of the non-traditional site(s) and your agency’s relationship with the site(s).
- A description of the behavioral health services that will be offered at the non-traditional site.
- A description of the supports provided at the non-traditional site.
- An itemized description of the technology, infrastructure, and light remodeling expenses that will be incurred, complete with cost estimates.
- The necessary Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other confidentiality requirements that will be followed in providing care at the non-traditional site.
- The steps that will be taken to ensure the space at the non-traditional site is trauma sensitive.
Maximum points available for this section: 15
The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.
Describe capacity to implement the program design.
- Organization’s purpose or mission
- New or existing staff positions, and any professional licenses they hold, that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position
- Recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions
- Continuation of the program if there is turnover in staff
- Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:
- The extent of the relationship.
- How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
- Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
- Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).
Maximum points available for this section: 15
Describe experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s)
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if your efforts had an impact
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge about:
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling the program requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.
Describe the relevant training and professional development staff and/or subcontracted staff will receive over the anticipated total funding period.
Maximum points available for this section: 5
Describe how services and supports provided by the program will continue long term when the contract term ends.
Maximum points available for this section: 30
Two priority areas have been defined for this funding opportunity. For each priority area describe:
- Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority area.
- Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
- Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
- Measurable impact: How you will measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority area (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clientele, etc.).
Maximum points available for this priority: 15
Expand opportunities for consumers to access tele-behavioral health services by reducing technological and location barriers.
Maximum points available for this priority: 15
Reduce disparities in access to behavioral health care for underserved populations, including those who are enrolled in Medicaid, Medicare, or are uninsured.
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Performance reporting must be completed at the end of the contract date, September 30, 2026, to include scope of work and outcomes of deliverables.
- Expense reporting forms must be submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. November 14, 2025.
Applications must include the narrative response and the additional documents outlined in the application requirements section.
By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the statements on the Grant Funding Opportunities: Legal Definitions and Requirements page .
Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Tele-Behavioral Health.
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