RFP #2026-447Oneida County 24/7 Crisis Services: Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Response

Location:	New York
Posted:	Mar 2, 2026
Due:	Mar 13, 2026
Agency:	Oneida County, New York
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	58 - Communications, Detection and Coherent Radiation Equipment F - Natural Resources and Conservation Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Attachment Preview

Oneida County Department of Mental Health

RFP # 2026-447

Oneida County 24/7 Crisis Services: Crisis Hotline and

Mobile Crisis Response

1. INTRODUCTION

Oneida County is dedicated to sustaining and enhancing a strong, responsive crisis care continuum

that ensures individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges receive timely, effective, and

compassionate support. Mobile Crisis Services and the Crisis Hotline remain vital components of

this system, offering immediate access to care for people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.

These services provide comprehensive triage and assessment, evidence-based crisis intervention,

and follow-up support that promotes stabilization and connection to ongoing care. Our shared goal

is to foster recovery, reduce harm, and support well-being through person-centered, trauma-

informed approaches.

For decades, Oneida County’s Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) has been a cornerstone

of local behavioral health crisis response. Recent service data from 2020 through 2025 reveal

important trends that present opportunities to build on this strong foundation and further strengthen

our approach. While call volumes have shifted over time, we are encouraged by the growing

number of self-referrals and school-based referrals—clear indicators of increasing community

engagement and awareness. These patterns affirm that people are reaching out for help, and we

have an exciting opportunity to ensure that when they do, support is timely, effective, and

accessible across all settings and timeframes.

Looking ahead, Oneida County is committed to advancing a more integrated and collaborative

model of crisis care—one that leverages partnerships across behavioral health providers, law

enforcement, schools, and community organizations. By embracing innovation, creativity, and

cross-sector collaboration, we can ensure comprehensive triage, evidence-based intervention, and

robust follow-up care for every individual who seeks help. The County invites proposals that align

with OMH and SAMHSA best practices and reflect a shared vision of holistic, sustainable support

for our community. Together, we can build a future where every person in crisis receives the care

they need, when they need it.

2. KEY DATES AND DEADLINES

a. Proposals will be received by the Oneida County Department of Mental Health until 4:00

P.M., Eastern Time on March 13, 2026, for: RFP # 2026-447: Oneida County Department

Of Mental Health 24/7 Crisis Services: Crisis Hotline And Mobile Crisis Response.

b. Proposals must be submitted via single emailed PDF to mhfiscal@oneidacountyny.gov. No

partial or incomplete proposals will be accepted.

c. Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via email to

mhfiscal@oneidacountyny.gov no later than 4:00 PM, Eastern Time on February 23, 2026.

The subject line for emailed questions should read: “RFP #2026-447: Oneida County

Department Of Mental Health – MCAT Question Submission”. Questions must include:

the Organization Name, Contact Person, Reference to specific section/page of the RFP, and

clear and concise wording of the question.

d. A virtual question and answer meeting will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 12:00

p.m. Eastern Time via Microsoft Teams. Attendance is optional but strongly encouraged.

Meeting details (link and instructions) will be posted on the Oneida County website and

emailed to all contact persons at organizations that submitted questions via email. During

the virtual meeting, OCDMH staff will address submitted questions. Reponses provided

during the meeting will be documented and shared publicly on the Oneida County website

under the RFP section.

e. All submitted questions and official responses will be complied into a Q&A Addendum.

The Addendum will be posted on the Oneida County website.

f. Copies of this RFP may be downloaded from

https://oneidacountyny.gov/departments/purchasing/rfps/.

g. The County of Oneida, in order to promote its established Affirmative Action Plan invites

bids from underrepresented groups. This Affirmative Action Policy regarding sealed bids

and contracts applies to all persons without regard to age, race, creed, color, national origin,

gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, military status, marital status, genetic

predisposition or carrier status or political affiliation or belief.

h. Table of Dates and Deadlines

Event

Date/Time (Eastern)

Request for Proposals (RFP) Issued

January 23, 2026

Questions Due via Email

February 23, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Live Q&A Session via Microsoft Teams February 27, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

Q&A Reponses Posted

March 2, 2026 (unless changed)

RFP Proposal Submissions Due

March 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Decision/Notification of Award(s)

March 25, 2026 (unless changed)

Estimated Contract State Date

June 1, 2026 (unless changed)

3. THE MOBILE CRISIS SERVICES

a. Oneida County seeks to contract with one or more providers to implement and operate a

24/7 Mobile Crisis Service, which includes, at minimum, a crisis hotline and mobile crisis

response.

b. 24/7 Crisis Services: Crisis Hotline and Crisis Mobile Response: The winning proposer(s)

shall provide Mobile Crisis – Program Code #0680 services for the County. Such

proposer(s) shall provide crisis services to individuals experiencing a behavioral health

crisis and their collaterals regardless of their age and ability to pay, with the purpose of

response, intervention, stabilization, and referral/linkages to appropriate treatment and

services. Eligible services delivered according to program and billing guidance are

reimbursed by Medicaid Managed Care or Medicaid by rate codes under the State Plan

Amendment (#22-0026). The Proposer must comply with the New York State Office of

Mental Health (OMH) State Plan Amendment Updates to Mobile Crises Services. The

Proposer shall also follow applicable Program Guidance as it pertains to Mobile Crisis

services and the Mobile Crisis Program Guidance.

c. Scope of Services

i. Mobile Crisis services shall be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365

days a year in a variety of settings, including community locations where the

individual lives, works, attends school, engages in services, or socializes. This

includes In-Person intervention within three (3) hours of determination of need.

The winning proposer(s) shall maintain the capacity to respond immediately or

within the timeliness standards established by the State and/or County. Mobile

Crisis, which is a crisis intervention (CI) service, shall be delivered via the

following modalities, with a priority for in-person face-to-face response:

ii. Mobile Crisis Face-to-Face Response: A two-person mobile crisis response is

required and shall include a Mobile Crisis Professional and a qualified Mobile

Crisis staff with a one-person response permitted pursuant to OMH guidelines.

When a mobile crisis response is provided by less than two (2) staff, the rationale

shall be documented into the electronic medical record (EMR).

iii. Crisis Follow Up – Face to Face: Follow-up shall include coordination with, and

referrals to, health, social, other services, and supports as needed and are provided

by Mobile Crisis Professionals, qualified Mobile Crisis staff with at least a

bachelor’s degree or qualified Peers/Advocates working within their scope of work

and under the supervision of a qualified supervision.

iv. Telephonic Crisis Response: Mobile Crisis Professionals and other qualified staff

may provide crisis intervention service components via telephonic crisis response

to individuals as needed. Primarily, triage services shall be completed via

Telephonic Crisis Response with evaluations conducted in person, face-to-face.

This service shall be provided to both children and adults.

v. Telephonic Crisis Follow-Up: Mobile Crisis Professionals and other qualified staff

may provide crisis intervention service components via telephonic crisis follow-up

to individuals as needed. This service shall be provided for both children and adults.

vi. Telehealth: Mobile Crisis programs must be approved to deliver applicable crisis

intervention services via telehealth by qualified Mobile Crisis Professionals based

on State guidance and guidelines outlined in Telehealth Services Guidance for

OMH Applicants. Proposers must demonstrate the ability to provide telehealth

crisis intervention services as an adjunct to in-person response. Telehealth shall be

utilized only when clinically appropriate and in compliance with OMH Telehealth

Services Guidance. Proposers must outline protocols for determining telehealth

suitability, technology infrastructure, and staff training.

vii. The Proposer shall include, at a minimum, the following service components

delivered through the above crisis response methods:

1. Mental health and substance use assessments and tools

2. Crisis planning

3. Safety planning

4. Referrals to Individual and family counseling

5. Care coordination

6. Peer and Family Peer Support

7. 911 (or other emergency services/resources) diversion for behavioral health.

8. Critical Incident Group Debriefing and/or Critical Incident Stress Management

viii. The Proposer shall ensure that they maintain a proper staffing composition to be

able to deliver the services requested. Each Mobile Crisis Applicant shall

continuously have an adequate number of licensed staff and an appropriate staff

composition to carry out its goals and objectives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and

365 days a year. The Proposer shall have a staffing plan that documents staff

qualifications, including training, clinical experience and education. The plan shall

demonstrate sufficient coverage by qualified staff to prioritize known peak

operating hours.

ix. Services shall be delivered by staff as outlined above.

x. Staff providing direct services shall do so under the supervision of a qualified

supervisor operating within their scope of practice or work.

xi. Only a Mobile Crisis Professional or CASAC under the direct supervision of a

qualified supervisor can facilitate mental health and substance use assessments and

tools.

xii. Certified/Credentialed and Provisionally Certified/Credentialed Peers may provide

peer, youth, and family peer support services via crisis follow up and/or mobile

crisis response under the direct supervision of a qualified supervisor operating

within their scope of practice or other mobile crisis staff approved to supervise

Certified/Credentialed Peers. Peers shall receive regular supervision from a

qualified mental health professional.

xiii. The Proposer shall utilize the definitions of staffing types (Mobile Crisis

Professionals, Mobile Crisis Staff and Qualified Peers).

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

RFP #2026-447Oneida County 24/7 Crisis Services: Crisis Hotline and Mobile Crisis Response

Attachment Preview

See also