Treatment Alternative Program

Location:	Wisconsin
Posted:	Apr 1, 2026
Due:	Apr 17, 2026
Agency:	State of Wisconsin - Department of Health Services
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	G - Social Services Q - Medical Services
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

Key for Acquisition Type (alpha order):

RFA = Request for Application
RFB = Request for Bid
RFI = Request for Information
RFP = Request for Proposal

This funding opportunity announcement was updated March 11, 2026, and April 1, 2026. The "estimated award amount," "total funding amount," and "anticipated contract dates" sections were changed March 11. The "application deadline" section was changed April 1.

Overview

The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to implement a Treatment Alternative Program for people in the criminal justice system with substance use concerns. This program is designed to enhance community safety by providing focused treatment interventions for participants as a voluntary alternative to conviction while fostering recovery and accountability. It targets the underlying causes or unmet needs that lead to criminal justice system involvement.

Program requirements

A Treatment Alternative Program must follow all the standards in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 66 . The standards include identifying and providing resources for people in the criminal justice system eligible for services under Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 66.06 that meet the individual's needs specific to their offense and risk level while minimizing risk of re-arrest.

A majority of granted funding (at least 75%) must be used to provide treatment services as outlined in Wis. Stat. § 46.65 .

Eligible applicants

Agencies must be certified to operate one or more substance use programs under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 75 and be one of the following:

A county department of community programs established under Wis. Stat. § 51.42
A county department of human services established under Wis. Stat. § 46.23
A private nonprofit corporation organized under Wis. Stat. ch. 181
A Tribal agency appointed by the governing body of a federally recognized Tribal nation that shares boundaries with Wisconsin;
A nonprofit minority agency (at least 50% of the members of the agency’s board of directors are members of a minority group and at least 50% of the participants are members of a minority group).

Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.

Application deadline

This section was updated April 1, 2026

April 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

Estimated number of awards

Estimated award amount(s)

This section was updated March 11, 2026.

$123,969 for July 1, 2026-December 31, 2026
$174,475 per year 2027-2030

Total funding available

This section was updated March 11, 2026.

$821,869

Anticipated length of funding opportunity

5 years

Anticipated contract dates

This section was updated March 11, 2026.

July 1, 2026-December 31, 2026
January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
January 1, 2028 – December 31, 2028
January 1, 2029 – December 31, 2029
January 1, 2030 – December 31, 2030

Renewal of the contract each year will be based upon the awardee’s satisfactory performance, satisfactory completion of annual deliverables and grant expectations, audit findings, and the availability of funds.

Match requirement

None

Funding source

State general purpose revenue

Written questions due

March 17, 2026

Answers posted

April 1, 2026

Award/denial notification timeline

May 18, 2026 (estimated)

Award statement

Award(s) will be made to the 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.

Application requirements

Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.

There is a 10-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.

Applications also must include the following documents:

IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
DCTS Summary Line Item Budget, F-01601C (Excel) - The budget provided should be based on a full year of funding
Organizational chart of the applying agency

The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.

Application scoring rubric

Applications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using a 100-point scale. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.

Program design: 25 points
Capacity: 15 points
Experience and knowledge: 20 points
Sustainability: 10 points
Documents: 5 points
Grant priority: 25 points

Narrative response

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 black font with a size of at least 11 point

Arial and Times New Roman are the recommended fonts for the narrative response.

The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.

Section 1: Program design

Maximum points available for this section: 25

Programs must comply with the standards in Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 66 . Describe how your program will be designed to follow:

Organizational and administrative requirements under Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 66.04 .
Procedures for communicating and reaching agreements with representatives of the criminal justice system and treatment providers.
Eligibility criteria for participants who obtain services under the program.
Procedures for early identification of eligible participants.
Assessment, referral, treatment and monitoring procedures.
Policies and procedures for staff training.
A data collection system to be used for program management and evaluation.
The requirement that at least 75% of the grant be used to provide treatment services to clients in the program.

Section 2: Capacity

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 your capacity to implement the program design.

Experience with administrative rules.
Experience with staff recruitment and training and timeline for this work for this program.
Experience with managing staff turnover and the impact on program operation.

If you will be using subcontractor(s) 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).

Section 3: Experience and knowledge

Maximum points available for this section: 20

Describe your experience with people in the criminal justice system including current programs you manage.

Describe your experience with, and/or knowledge of this program such as:

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.

If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their 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.

Section 4: Sustainability

Maximum points available for this section: 10

Describe your sustainability plans when the contract term ends. Include how you will ensure services and supports continue long term.

Section 5: Grant priority

For the priority, describe the:

Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority.
Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
Measurable impact: Describe how you will measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clients, etc.).

Priority one

Maximum points available for priority one: 25

Describe how the program will provide substance use assessment and treatment in lieu of incarceration for eligible individuals with criminal justice system involvement with the intent to enhance public health and safety, reduce recidivism, and alleviate pressure on an overburdened criminal justice system for the entire term of the funding opportunity including:

Growing relationships with criminal justice collaborators in your community (examples: public defenders office, district attorney’s office, law enforcement, circuit courts).
Endorsing an atmosphere of staff understanding, support, and growth of the program mission, philosophy, and operation.
Identifying appropriate participants and program dynamics from intake to discharge using an evidence-based approach.
Reducing pressure on criminal justice partners by diverting people charged with non-violent, low-risk offenses that involve substance use.

Reporting requirements

Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:

Performance reporting completed with due dates set in writing by DHS. Performance reporting is required no later than 30 days past the mid-point of the contract period, and no later than 30 days past the contract end date.
Expense reporting submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.

Questions and answers

Questions for this funding opportunity were due March 17, 2026.

Answers to questions submitted for this funding opportunity

Question 1: Can you please clarify or define the term “low-risk crimes” referenced in the priority section of the funding opportunity?

Answer 1: Low-risk crimes are non-violent misdemeanors, first-time offenses, and low-risk felonies.

Question 2: Can a Treatment Alternative Program provider accept referrals from a treatment court program?

Answer 2: This funding opportunity is to identify individuals who are eligible to be diverted away from a drug court program; therefore, if the individual in a Treatment Alternative Program is unable to complete the requirements of the program, they would be referred to a higher level of monitoring and treatment (example: problem-solving courts).

Question 3: Can these funds be used to start a diversion program for low-risk/low-need participants through our district attorney’s office?

Answer 3: Yes, these funds may be used to begin a diversion program for low-risk/low-need participants.

Question 4: Would the criminal justice department here in our county fall under the “county department of community programs” that would be eligible to receive funds?

Answer 4: Yes, the district attorney office is a county department and eligible to receive these funds.

Application submission

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. April 17, 2026.

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: Definitions and Legal Requirements page .

Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Treatment Alternative Program.

Life Cycle Step

Current Solicitations

Start date

March 4, 2026

Expiration date

April 3, 2026

Solicitation links

Acquisition grant type

RFA

Glossary

Solicitation due date/time

April 17, 2026

Last revised April 1, 2026

Treatment Alternative Program

See also