RFI - SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
| Location: | California |
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| Posted: | Nov 12, 2025 |
| Due: | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Agency: | San Diego County |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Solicitation No: | BPM012883 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| RFx Name: | BPM012883 |
| RFx Begin Date (UTC+0): | RFI - SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES |
| RFx End Date (UTC+0): | 1 |
| Commodities: | 1 |
| RFx Status: | Comprehensive health services |
| Solicitation Code: | 11/12/2025 8:00:00 AM |
| Lot #: | 12/15/2025 5:00:00 PM |
| Round #: |
32
d 08 h 43 min 56 s |
RFx General Information
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Code
BPM012883
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RFx Name
RFI - SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
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Lot #
1
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Round #
1
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RFx Begin Date
11/12/2025 8:00:00 AM
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RFx End Date
12/15/2025 5:00:00 PM
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Summary
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Joseph Craft, Procurement Contracting Officer
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Q&A Start Date
(M/d/yyyy)
11/12/2025
8:00:00 AM
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Q&A End Date
(M/d/yyyy)
12/8/2025
3:00:00 PM
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RFx Documents
1 Record(s)
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Attachment Preview
ALLEN R. HUNSBERGER
DIRECTOR
November 12, 2025
DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING AND CONTRACTING
5560 OVERLAND AVENUE, SUITE 270, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92123-1204
PHONE (858) 505-6367 FAX (858) 715-6452
BRENDA G. MILLER
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NO. 12883
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
The County of San Diego is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to gather input on how to better support local
organizations in delivering Medi-Cal behavioral health services. Feedback will help identify barriers to Medi-Cal
certification, highlight education and capacity-building needs, strengthen coordination with Medi-Cal Managed
Care Plans, improve navigation and care transitions, and inform planning to grow the behavioral health workforce
and strengthen the overall system.
This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes – it does not constitute a Request for Proposal or a
promise to issue a solicitation in the future. This request for information does not commit the County to contract for
any supply or service whatsoever. Respondents are advised that the County will not pay for any information or
administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI; all costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely
at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future
solicitations. The potential respondents are responsible for monitoring this request for additional information
pertaining to this requirement.
The County reserves the right to use, without restriction, any information provided in response to this RFI. Please note
that all information provided in response to this RFI may be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records
Act.
RFI MEETING:
The County will be hosting a virtual RFI meeting on December 1st, 2025, at 11:00 AM local San Diego time. If
your organization is interested in attending, join the virtual conference at Join the meeting now or call in (audio only)
at +1 619-343-2539,,526315064# Phone conference ID: 526 315 064#
RFI SUBMITTAL INFORMATION:
Parties interested in providing input to this RFI may submit written responses to the Questionnaire below.
RFI RESPONSES:
Completed questionnaire is due no later than December 15th, 2025, at 5:00 PM local San Diego time.
Submit response electronically by uploading your information in either Word or PDF format directly in the BuyNet
system at: https://sdbuynet.sandiegocounty.gov/
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NO. 12883
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Any questions should be submitted through BuyNet by sending a message to the Contracting Officer using the
“Discussions” functionality. Questions and requests for clarification related to this RFI should be submitted in
writing prior to December 8th, 2025. Questions received after this deadline may not be answered. Formal County
responses to Questions will be in writing; oral explanations or responses to Questions will not be binding upon the
County.
Please note: This Request for Information (RFI) is NOT a procurement action. It is intended for information
gathering only.
Thank you for your interest in responding to this RFI. The County of San Diego looks forward to your organization’s
participation in this process.
OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND:
For many years, the County has engaged community members, providers, and other stakeholders through the
Community Planning Process (CPP) under the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). The CPP brings together a broad
range of voices to provide input on specialty mental health and substance use services, policies, program planning,
implementation, budget allocation, and related system improvement efforts. CPP feedback has consistently highlighted
themes related to access, equity, provider participation, and system navigation. Under the Behavioral Health Services
Act (BHSA, Proposition 1), which takes effect July 1, 2026, CPP expectations expand to require more structured
engagement of defined stakeholder groups. During this transition, the County continues conducting CPP activities
under MHSA while preparing for enhanced BHSA requirements.
Across recent community engagement efforts, stakeholders have shared about persistent gaps in mild-to-moderate
behavioral health care, especially culturally rooted, community-based services. Many community-based organizations,
including smaller and BIPOC-led providers, have expressed interest in participating more fully in behavioral health
service delivery, but cite challenges in meeting administrative, credentialing, and/or operational requirements for Medi-
Cal participation. Stakeholders have also emphasized the need to strengthen coordination and warm-handoff pathways
between MCPs and County Behavioral Health Services to support individuals whose needs change in acuity. These
themes reflect long-standing community priorities alongside broader system transformation efforts underway across
California.
California’s Medi-Cal behavioral health system uses a shared approach in which MCPs and counties, which serve as
the Specialty Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) within the Medi-Cal system, each help meet different behavioral health
needs. MCPs typically support outpatient mental health services for individuals with mild-to-moderate conditions,
while counties retain responsibility for specialty behavioral health services for individuals with more complex or
higher-acuity needs. These roles are defined through State statute, waiver authorities, and separate funding structures.
While this layered system can be complex to navigate, both MCPs and counties play essential roles. The County
remains focused on strengthening coordination with MCPs, supporting providers interested in participating in Medi-
Cal, and improving transitions between levels of care so individuals receive the right support at the right time.
California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) also continues to reshape behavioral health service delivery
across the state through expanded eligibility for Enhanced Care Management (ECM), broader access to Community
Supports (CS), and increased opportunities for Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to participate in Medi-Cal—
provided credentialing, data-sharing, and reporting requirements are met. Community input indicates that Medi-Cal
enrollment processes—whether through DHCS’s Provider Application and Validation for Enrollment (PAVE) Portal
or MCP credentialing protocols—can be challenging, especially for smaller organizations. CPP participants and
community stakeholders have consistently noted that expanding pathways for CBOs and smaller providers to receive
Medi-Cal reimbursement—particularly for mild-to-moderate behavioral health services—is essential to diversifying
and strengthening the local behavioral health workforce. Many culturally rooted organizations already serve as trusted
community resources, but face barriers related to administrative readiness, billing systems, and credentialing
Page 2 of 4
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NO. 12883
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
requirements. Enabling a broader set of providers to participate in Medi-Cal would help expand access to services in
community settings and support a workforce that reflects the cultural and linguistic diversity of San Diego County.
Through BHSA CPP sessions, stakeholders have also expressed interest in learning about CalAIM updates, expanded
eligibility for ECM and CS, and opportunities for non-traditional providers to participate in Medi-Cal. Understanding
how stakeholders currently receive this information will help the County identify opportunities to more effectively
promote these pathways to prospective behavioral health Medi-Cal providers.
The County is also seeking insights from organizations currently delivering ECM and/or CS under MCPs. Their
feedback can help identify opportunities to strengthen coordination between MCP-delivered services and County
Behavioral Health programs, improve handoff pathways, and support a more integrated, person-centered behavioral
health system. Information gathered through this RFI will help the County identify where system navigation is
challenging, where technical assistance would be most helpful, and what strategies may most effectively strengthen
local behavioral health capacity, so individuals receive timely, culturally responsive, and appropriate care.
QUESTIONNAIRE:
1. Describe your organization, the communities you serve, and the type of services you currently provide (e.g.,
behavioral health, housing, ECM/CS, or other Medi-Cal-eligible supports).
2. What are some challenges your organization has encountered, or expects to face, when pursuing Medi-Cal
certification or contracts with Managed Care Plans (MCPs)?
3. What kind of support would most help your organization pursue Medi-Cal certification? (e.g., billing readiness,
documentation, compliance, administrative systems)
4. What formats of support would be most effective for your staff and leadership? (e.g., one-on-one coaching,
workshops, webinars, peer learning cohorts)
5. What factors would make support opportunities most accessible to your organization? (e.g., timing, language,
cost, regional availability, stipends)
6. What challenges might make it difficult for your organization to use or benefit from the types of support you’ve
described? What could help overcome those challenges?
7. What regional, cultural, or linguistic factors should be considered when supporting organizations across San
Diego County?
8. For organizations currently providing Enhanced Care Management (ECM) or Community Supports (CS): What
lessons or practices could improve coordination between MCP-funded services and County Behavioral Health
Services programs?
9. How can organizations providing Community Supports (CS), Managed Care Plans (MCPs), and the County
best collaborate to reduce duplication and streamline client care coordination, especially for individuals
receiving Enhanced Care Management (ECM)?
10. More broadly, how can MCPs, intermediary organizations, and the County collaborate to reduce duplication,
strengthen referrals, and streamline client care coordination?
11. What factors would need to be considered for organizations to enter into contracts with both County Behavioral
Health Services as well as Managed Care Plans?
12. How familiar is your organization with the Medi-Cal certification process (including the PAVE portal)?
Page 3 of 4
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) NO. 12883
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
SUPPORTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO DELIVER MEDI-CAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
13. Do you have any additional feedback or ideas that could help shape this initiative?
Organization: _________________________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________________
Contact Person: _______________________________________________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________________ Email ________________________________
Page 4 of 4
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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