Mobile Opioid Treatment Programs

Pierce County is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment and other services via a Mobile Opioid Treatment Unit(s) in rural and suburban areas of Pierce County. This initiative is funded through opioid settlement funds, as well as Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program (COSSUP) funding awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The goal is to expand access to treatment and recovery services for individuals affected by opioid use disorder, particularly those living in areas of the county that lack access to traditional MOUD treatment facilities.

The purpose of this project is to design, modify, and deliver up to two fully equipped mobile treatment units that will provide MOUD services to underserved communities. The mobile units should be capable of delivering comprehensive care that addresses participants' physical, emotional, and social needs, with a holistic approach to improving overall health outcomes. This includes providing MOUD, counseling, harm reduction, primary care, peer support, telehealth, and other support services. A minimum of $3,263,159 in funding has been allocated for these services, with the potential for additional funds to be made available without the need for further procurement. Any additional funding will be awarded to the successful bidders of this RFP.

Pierce County is a beneficiary of the nationwide opioid settlements resulting from litigation brought by state and local governments against major pharmaceutical distributors for their actions, which were found to have significantly contributed to the opioid crisis, leading to widespread addiction, overdoses, and death. The settlement dollars will be paid over 17 years, from 2021-2038. In Washington State, the settlement dollars are awarded to the County under One Washington’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Per this MOU, the Pierce County Opioid Abatement Council (OAB) was created as a mandatory spending oversight body. More details about this council can be found here . Funds must be utilized for:

• Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Outpatient, detox, residential/inpatient, medication assisted treatment, school-based services, and special services for the justice-involved.
• Treatment Supports: Case management, transportation, peer supports and supported employment.
• Housing: Clean and sober housing, post-treatment stabilization, and other housing supports.
• Prevention Messaging: Education, awareness, and prevention messaging.
• Prevention Communication: Distribution and training around Naloxone and similar medications, support screening for fentanyl, and other overdose prevention efforts.
• Other uses: Training, leadership efforts, and research on opioid abatement.

The County and the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department’s Opioid Task Force (OTF) participating jurisdictions have prioritized mobile outreach and treatment as a key strategy to address the opioid crisis in Pierce County. The OTF was established in 2019 through a coordinated effort involving the City of Tacoma, Elevate Health, Pierce County Human Services, and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. The primary responsibility is to coordinate the County and local jurisdictions’ response to the opioid crisis. This initiative was informed by a comprehensive Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis, conducted with input from community members, providers, and people with lived experience of Opioid Use Disorder. One critical need identified through this process was the lack of transportation to services. To address this, Mobile Opioid Treatment Units will be deployed to effectively reach and serve individuals in remote and underserved areas, ensuring that those in need have access to essential treatment and support services, which are currently concentrated primarily in the City of Tacoma.

Given the identified needs of the community, the County applied for and was awarded COSSUP funding in October 2024 to further support this project. These additional funds will complement the existing Opioid Settlement dollars, enhancing the County's capacity to deliver comprehensive mobile treatment services. This funding will ensure the project’s sustainability and strengthen efforts to provide equitable access to care across the region.