Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail RFP

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from responsible vendors to provide comprehensive correctional healthcare services for the incarcerated population held within the Chisago County Jail. It is anticipated that any contracts resulting from this RFP would commence no later than September 1, 2026, and continue through December 31, 2029, with an option to extend the contract for up to three (3) additional one (1) year terms.

Correctional healthcare services include, but are not limited to, the provision of medical, mental health, and related clinical services; staffing; administration; coordination of care; and all necessary supplies and equipment required to deliver healthcare services within a secure correctional environment. Services shall be provided in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including Minnesota Department of Corrections standards, and in coordination with Chisago County Jail operations.

The Chisago County Jail is located in Center City, Minnesota. The facility has a rated capacity of one hundred twenty (120) inmates and is currently approved by the Minnesota Department of Corrections to house a maximum population of eighty (80) inmates, based on the approved staffing plan.

GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

General Operations
1.        Maintain an open and collaborative relationship with the County, Jail Administrator, and custody staff, ensuring clear communication and coordination of care.
2.        Operate the healthcare program in a cost-effective manner, with full transparency and reporting to County officials as requested or required.
3.        Provide healthcare services seven (7) days per week, including 24/7 on-call provider coverage. On-site staffing shall be scheduled daily. Variations in staffing schedules for weekends and holidays may be permitted, provided that access to care, medication administration, and timely clinical decision-making are maintained at all times to the satisfaction of the County.
4.        Ensure services are scalable and responsive to fluctuations in inmate population, including increases resulting from boarding agreements or other operational changes.
5.        Operate the healthcare program in a humane and professional manner, consistent with accepted correctional healthcare standards and in compliance with Minnesota Department of Corrections requirements and all applicable laws and regulations.
6.        Comply with all applicable inspections, audits, and regulatory requirements, including Department of Corrections reviews, and maintain full compliance with required standards.

Staffing and Clinical Coverage
7.        Provide adequate and qualified personnel to deliver services, including but not limited to:
•        On-site nursing coverage consistent with the requirements of this RFP
•        24/7 on-call licensed prescriber coverage
•        On-site prescriber visits at a minimum frequency as specified
•        Mental health services as specified
8.        Maintain sufficient staffing levels to ensure continuity of care during absences, turnover, or increased service demand.

Provider Response and Access to Care
9.        Provide timely access to clinical direction, including:
•        Expected provider response time of approximately fifteen (15) minutes under normal conditions
•        Maximum response time not to exceed sixty (60) minutes
•        An established escalation protocol including backup providers
10.        Differentiate between urgent and routine requests, ensuring that urgent medical needs receive immediate attention while allowing reasonable flexibility for non-urgent matters, provided patient care is not compromised.
11.        Ensure all clinical decisions are provider-directed, with licensed prescribers making medical determinations on a case-by-case basis following referral from nursing or custody staff.

Medical Services Delivery
12.        Review all intake screening forms completed by custody staff no less than daily, identify inmates requiring medical follow-up, and ensure timely assessment and intervention as clinically indicated.
13.        Provide ongoing medical services, including:
•        Sick call evaluation and treatment
•        Management of chronic conditions
•        Detoxification monitoring and care
•        Coordination of emergency and off-site medical services
14.        The Proposer shall establish written clinical escalation guidelines identifying objective criteria requiring immediate emergency referral, provider notification, or hospital transport, subject to County review and approval.
15.        Provide mental health services, including:
•        A minimum of four (4) hours per week of on-site services
•        Crisis intervention and evaluation as needed
•        Scalable services based on identified need
•        Telehealth services may supplement but shall not replace required on-site services Medication Administration and Documentation
16.        Provide medication administration services, including appropriate verification, documentation, refusal tracking, and oversight consistent with accepted clinical standards.
17.        Maintain a system for documenting medication administration, inmate receipt when practicable, and refusals of medications or medical services.
18.        Ensure timely medication verification and continuity of care, including coordination with providers for approval of medications when required.

Off-Site Care Coordination
19.        Coordinate off-site medical services, including hospital and specialty care, as necessary.
20.        Provide itemized documentation of off-site services, including costs, to support County review and potential cost recovery.
21.        Assist with cost containment efforts, including repricing or review of medical claims where applicable.

Security and Facility Integration
22.        Perform all work within a custodial setting, recognizing the security requirements of the facility.
23.        The Proposer’s employees shall:
•        Be aware of and report contraband, safety, and security concerns
•        Comply with all facility policies and procedures
•        Take direction from correctional staff during emergencies
24.        Ensure all staff are appropriately screened and approved prior to working in the facility. Background screening shall be completed by following the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s vendor background screening process.
Training and Compliance
25.        Provide initial and ongoing training for Proposer employees on correctional healthcare practices, safety, security procedures, and any Minnesota Department of Corrections training requirements applicable to contracted correctional healthcare personnel, as determined by the County.
26.        Participate in and adhere to training standards required by the County and/or the Minnesota Department of Corrections, including but not limited to: PREA, safety, and workplace conduct, at no additional cost to the County.
Quality Assurance and Communication
27.        Establish and maintain a quality assurance program, including monitoring of service delivery, documentation, and clinical outcomes.
28.        Provide procedures for addressing inmate and staff complaints related to medical services, including timely response and resolution.
29.        Provide regular reporting to the County regarding service delivery, staffing, and operational performance as required.

V.        QUESTIONS
Questions are permitted and written answers will be provided. All official answers or positions of Chisago County will be stated in writing.

Questions concerning this RFP should be submitted in writing by May 8, 2026, to Christina Vollrath, Clerk to the County Board of Commissioners. Please include the page number and section number for each question. Questions may be submitted by letter or e-mail to [email protected] . Phone calls will not be accepted for question submission.

VI.        REVISIONS TO RFP
Revisions or interpretations made by Chisago County will be by addendum issued prior to the date set for the proposal deadline. Any explanation desired by Proposer must be requested from the County's authorized representative in writing, and if an explanation is necessary, a reply will be made in the form of an addendum.

Information obtained from unauthorized representative, agent, or employee of Chisago County or any other person will not affect the risks or obligations assumed by the Proposer or relieve the Proposer from fulfilling any of the conditions of the resulting contract.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSAL
Proposals must be received by May 22, 2026, at 2:00pm (Central Time). Proposers shall submit one (1) original proposal (clearly marked “Original”) and two (2) complete copies, unless otherwise specified by the County. Late proposals will not be considered and will be returned to the Proposer, unless the County determines that acceptance of a late proposal is in its best interest.

Proposals must be sealed and clearly marked: “Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail”. Proposals shall be addressed to:

Chisago County Board of Commissioners
Attn: Christina Vollrath, Clerk to the County Board of Commissioners Chisago County Government Center
313 North Main Street, Room 174 Center City, Minnesota 55012

Proposals will be opened and handled in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 13.591, and data contained within proposals will be classified and disclosed in accordance with applicable Minnesota law.

Any data a Proposer considers to be trade secret or non-public must meet the definition set forth in Minn. Stat. § 13.37. Proposers must clearly identify such data at the time of submission and provide a written justification for its classification. Failure to do so will result in all submitted materials being considered public data.

Proposals must be complete, accurate, and sufficiently detailed to allow for a thorough evaluation. Supplemental materials such as brochures or marketing information may be included but will not be relied upon by the County to determine responsiveness unless the required information is explicitly included within the proposal itself.