Adult 40 hour Peer Recovery Supporter Training Coordination for DBH

In an MBE set-aside solicitation, only those bidders/suppliers with an active MBE certification at the time the solicitation closes can submit a response

SRC0000035359

12/2/2025 2:00:00 PM

1. MISSION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The mission of the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is to provide statewide leadership of a high-quality mental health and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery system that is effective and valued by all Ohioans. DBH strives to be a national leader in implementing a comprehensive, accessible, and quality-focused system of addiction and mental health care and wellness for all Ohio citizens.

1. PURPOSE

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health ( DBH ) is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to

1. BACKGROUND

In Ohio, a Certified Adult Peer Recovery Supporter (CPRS) is an individual, age eighteen or older, with a direct lived experience, who has self-identified as being in recovery from a mental health disorder, substance use disorder, or both. CPRSs are trained and certified in using their lived experience.

The DBH 40-hour PRS training is delivered by (2) Adult CPRSs trained by DBH to facilitate the PRS Training. This training meets the state educational requirements for Adult Peer Recovery Supporter certification. CPRSs are required to complete 16 hours of self-paced, online coursework, prior to attending the live 40-hour PRS training.

For the purpose of this RFP, “Prospective CPRS” will be used to refer to individuals in the community who are interested in completing the 40-hour Adult Peer Recovery Supporter Training.

DBH is seeking one organization to be responsible for the coordination, recruitment, preparation, registration, and customer service for up to 60 total PRS trainings in fiscal year 2026 (January 2026-June 2026). If the contract is extended into fiscal year 2027 (July 2026-June 2027), awardee would be responsible for up to 100 total PRS trainings. This opportunity will provide up to $125,000. Trainings will begin in January 2026. Contract may be extended into Fiscal year 2027 (June 2026-July 2027). This opportunity would provide up to $250,000 if the contract is extended into fiscal year 2027.

Awardee will not be responsible for registration for Family or Youth Peer Supporter Trainings. Awardee would be responsible for referring prospective CPRSs who contact awardee regarding Family or Youth Peer Supporter Training to the appropriate organizations offering Family or Youth Peer Supporter Training.

The PRS training schedule will be developed by DBH and provided to awardee. Trainings will take place both online and in-person.  Trainings will be scheduled in groups of approximately 8-9 trainings per month. Schedule is subject to change.

Unless otherwise directed by DBH, online trainings will be available equitably to prospective CPRSs statewide and will not prioritize prospective CPRSs by region, county of residence, or other criteria. PRS training is limited to Ohio residents and individuals employed in the state of Ohio. Unless otherwise directed by DBH, PRS trainings will be filled on a first come, first serve basis as prospective CPRSs complete all registration requirements identified by DBH. DBH reserves the right to identify trainings from the provided schedule to give priority to special populations (e.g., Veterans, survivors of human trafficking, etc.).

This opportunity is open only to organizations that demonstrate statewide involvement (not specific to county or Mental Health & Recovery Services Board area) in Peer Services delivery and/or Peer Supporter training registration management. Only organizations with a physical, brick and mortar, location in the State of Ohio, that serves primarily Ohioans, will be considered.

1. SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES

Registration process and requirements will vary for in-person PRS Trainings and online PRS trainings. Please see outlined below:

For both online and in-person PRS trainings awardee will:

For online PRS trainings only, awardee will:

For in-person PRS trainings only, awardee will:

NOTE: For in-person trainings, a local training host, such as the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, is responsible for recruiting prospective CPRSs locally, and for connecting prospective CPRSs with awardee to complete the registration process. The local host will also be responsible for providing the physical training space, printed materials, and training manuals. Awardee will be responsible only for registration and will not be responsible for the securing or managing the training location (the physical space where training will be held). Awardee will not be required to travel to the training location. Awardee budget should not include venue reservation fees, meals, or travel.

Additional PRS Training Coordination Guidelines:
DBH will be solely responsible for the delivery of the PRS training.

Technology Requirements:

1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTOR

Priority for this funding opportunity will be given to organizations that demonstrate statewide involvement, not specific to county or Mental Health & Recovery Services Board area, in Peer Services delivery and/or Peer Supporter training hosting. Only organizations with a physical, brick and mortar location in the State of Ohio, that serves primarily Ohioans, will be considered.
Contractor shall not be subject to an “unresolved” finding for recovery under Section 9.24 of Ohio Revised Code.

PART FOUR: EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

1. Evaluation Process

OhioMHAS’s evaluation process of responses submitted to this request may consist of up to four distinct phases:

1. OhioMHAS’s initial review of all proposals for timely submission;
2. An evaluation committee review of the proposals for defects and scoring;
3. OhioMHAS’s request for more information (clarifications, interviews, presentations, and/or demonstrations); and,
4. Negotiations or best offer requests.

At its sole discretion, OhioMHAS will determine whether phases three and/or four are necessary under this RFP, reserving for itself the ability to eliminate or add phases three or four at any time during the evaluation process. OhioMHAS may add or remove sub-phases to phases 2 through 4 at any time if MHAS believes doing so will improve the evaluation process.

1. Proposal Evaluation Criteria

In the proposal evaluation phase, OhioMHAS staff or reviewers selected by OhioMHAS (the committee) will rate the proposals submitted in response to this RFP based on the following criteria and weight assigned to each criterion.