Behavioral Health Consulting Services *Updated 3/25/2026*

QUESTION & ANSWER REPORT

RFP No. ACH-900526

Behavioral Health Consulting Services

RESPONSE DEADLINE: April 6, 2026 at 2:00 pm

1. Bidder Minimum Qualifications

Mar 3, 2026 2:39 PM

Question: 1. To be eligible to participate in this RFP, Bidder must meet the following: a. Bidder must be regularly and continuously engaged in the business of providing professional consulting, technical assistance and administrative services to a government entity (city, county, state, or Federal) regarding behavioral health service provision for communities for at least six (6) of the past ten (10) years, which must be clearly stated or demonstrated in the bid response. Question: Please clarify rather or not this statement mean that the Bidders entity must have the past ten (10) years providing these services to the following (city, county, state, or Federal) or does it mean the professional and/or provider have experience providing requested services. Since the entity was disqualified previously for not conducting or providing requested services as the entity.

Answer: Per the RFP, page 7, SECTION I.D.1. BIDDER QUALIFICATIONS, “Bidder” must meet the Bidder Minimum Qualifications. Experience of individual staff members may be included in the bid response to demonstrate overall capacity to perform the work; however, individual staff experience cannot substitute for the Prime Bidder’s organizational experience as the proposing entity. Additionally, SECTION I.D.1.a. states that Bidder must be regularly and continuously engaged in the business described therein for, not ten (10), but “at least six (6) of the past ten (10) years.”

2. RFP No. ACH-900526 Behavioral Health Consulting Services.

Mar 4, 2026 8:42 PM

Question: Good evening, I am writing regarding RFP No. ACH-900526 Behavioral Health Consulting Services. Our team is reviewing the scope of the opportunity and would appreciate clarification regarding service delivery expectations. Could you please advise: 1. Whether the scope of this RFP includes direct clinical services, or if it is limited to consulting, technical assistance, and administrative support for Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) initiatives. 2. If clinical services are within scope, whether telehealth delivery would be acceptable. 3. If in-person services are required, whether patients may travel to the provider’s clinical location for services (for example, specialty treatments), or if services must be delivered within Alameda County facilities. Thank you very much for your guidance.

Answer: Per the RFP, page 6, SECTION I.C. SCOPE, ACH is requesting “comprehensive professional consulting, technical assistance and administrative services to ACBHD and its partners.” Direct clinical care services are not within the scope of this RFP.

3. Scope

Mar 13, 2026 3:07 PM

Question: What specific BHSA implementation gaps is ACBHD most seeking to address — is the primary need policy/regulatory compliance, program design, community engagement, or workforce development?

Answer: As described in the RFP, page 6, SECTION I.C. SCOPE, the Contractor will provide professional consulting, technical assistance, and administrative services to support ACBHD in the planning, implementation, administration, and ongoing operation of BHSA programs and services, as well as other behavioral health initiatives. The scope includes a broad range of activities such as program planning and implementation, technical assistance to ensure operational compliance, stakeholder engagement, evaluation and assessment, and efforts to strengthen overall system readiness and long-term sustainability.

4. Administrative fees

Mar 16, 2026 3:22 PM

Question: Page 8 of the RFP references an 18% cap on administrative fees for the Contractor. Could you provide further clarification on what qualifies as administrative fees?

Answer: Administrative fees include but are not limited to costs associated with administering, managing and overseeing the Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with subcontractors, such as invoice processing, payment management, reporting, and ensuring compliance with applicable funding requirements.

5. Qualifications for Local and SLEB extra points

Mar 16, 2026 3:24 PM

Question: To qualify for the local preference and SLEB preference extra points, must the SLEB and local entities be the prime bidder? If the prime bidder is not a SLEB or local entity but the prime includes SLEB and local entities as subcontractors, can the bidder still qualify for the extra points?

Answer: Per the RFP, page 21, SECTION II.N.2. AWARD, if a Bidder is certified by the County as either a small and local or an emerging and local business (SLEB), the County will provide up to 5% bid preference for procurements over $25,000. If a Bidder is located within Alameda County, the County may provide a 5% local bid preference. As per the Alameda County SLEB Program Overview webpage, which is linked to in page 20 of the RFP, Section II.N.2.b.(1), Small Local Emerging Business (SLEB) Program, Bidders not meeting the definition of a small or emerging local business do not qualify for a bid preference. Finally, bid preference is only available based on the local and/or SLEB status of the prime bidder, not the proposed subcontractors.

6. Bidder Qualifications - Fiduciary Responsibilities

Mar 16, 2026 3:26 PM

Question: Can Alameda County provide additional details on this qualification, “Bidder must possess experience in fulfilling fiduciary responsibilities as a fiscal agent or program sponsor, which must be clearly stated or demonstrated in the bid response.” Can the county define “fiscal agent” and “program sponsor?”

Answer: In this RFP, a fiscal agent refers to the prime entity responsible for managing funds on behalf of ACBHD as per Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with subcontractors, ensuring financial oversight, budgeting, processing payment disbursement, and ensuring compliance with funding requirements, reporting and maintaining financial records. A program sponsor provides strategic, administrative, and operational oversight to support program implementation; ensures compliance with funding and reporting requirements; manages and coordinates with subcontractors or partners; and delivers technical assistance as needed.

7. Bidder Qualifications - Program Sponsor

Mar 16, 2026 3:27 PM

Question: Can the county provide examples of the work that is expected from a “program sponsor?”

Answer: A program sponsor provides strategic, administrative, and operational oversight to support program implementation; ensures compliance with funding and reporting requirements; manages and coordinates with subcontractors or partners; and delivers technical assistance as needed.

8. Exhibit A Bid Response Packet - Financial Statements

Mar 16, 2026 3:28 PM

Question: In Exhibit A instructions on page 25 of the RFP (section S. Submittal of Proposals, item d), it’s stated that “In whole or in part, proposal responses are NOT to be marked confidential or proprietary.” Does the County permit the marking of confidential on submitted financial statements or can they be submitted as a separate file marked confidential?

Answer: Per the RFP, page 25, SECTION II.S.1.d. SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSALS, “in whole or part, proposal responses are not to be marked confidential or proprietary.” The General Services Agency (GSA) website, which is linked to in page 25 of the RFP, Section II.S.1.d., provides Alameda County’s Proprietary and Confidential Information Policies. Per these policies, “Unless otherwise specified, the County will not disclose … Company financials and/or related information.”

9. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:18 PM

Question: In what capacity will the contractor act as a fiscal agent of the county?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 6 above.

10. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:19 PM

Question: Can you please provide examples of the fiduciary responsibilities the contractor will take on?

Answer: Please see the answer to Question 6 above.

11. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:20 PM

Question: Is it permissible to subcontract the full fiduciary responsibilities?

Answer: No; the contractor must retain overall oversight and responsibility for fiduciary duties, and accountability for fund management, compliance, and reporting.

12. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:20 PM

Question: Will the contractor need to contract with other agencies to whom the county is providing funding?

Answer: Yes, the contractor will enter into a Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with subcontractors as a part of its programmatic and fiscal management responsibilities.

13. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:20 PM

Question: What criteria do the subcontractors need to meet in order to be eligible for this role?

Answer: Per the RFP, page 6, Section I.C.1, SCOPE, “any subcontractor engagement shall require prior written approval by ACBHD before commencement of services.”

14. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:21 PM

Question: Where is Alameda County with the BHSA Integrated Plan? Can you share any written materials related to the IP?

Answer: Alameda County is in the process of preparing its three‑year BHSA Integrated Plan for Behavioral Health Services and Outcomes, which will cover fiscal years 2026 -2029. The Public Comment period is the public’s opportunity to view and comment on the draft of the BHSA Integrated Plan for fiscal years 2026-2029. The 30-day Public Comment period extends from March 19, 2026, through April 20, 2026. Alameda County will host a Public Hearing on Monday April 20, 2026, at the Behavioral Health Advisory Board. The BHSA Integrated Plan can be found here: https://acmhsa.org/.

15. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:21 PM

Question: Are there more specific elements of BHSA, CalAIM or ACA that the county intends to focus on within the contractor scope (examples: Integrated Plan drafting or execution, Behavioral Health Outcomes, Accountability, and Transparency Report data, categories of focus such as Early Intervention Programs or Systems of Care)?

Answer: Given the three-year contract term, consulting, technical assistance, and administrative support activities will be defined by the County in alignment with requirements and guidance from state and federal entities. The Contractor is expected to stay current with evolving behavioral health initiatives and maintain the flexibility to provide responsive support.

16. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:21 PM

Question: What county staffing resources does the county plan to allocate to the scope (example: executive committee)?

Answer: The County will provide oversight and coordination as needed, and staffing resources will be determined based on the specific scope of activities and may include executive, program, fiscal, and administrative staff as appropriate.

17. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:21 PM

Question: Who will be the contractor’s day-to-day points of contact?

Answer: The contractor’s day-to-day points of contact will be designated by the County and may include executive, program, fiscal, and administrative staff as appropriate to support the activities outlined in the RFP, page 6, Section I.C. SCOPE.

18. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:22 PM

Question: Does the county have existing stakeholder advisory bodies it needs support engaging? If so, what are these advisory bodies and how often do they meet?

Answer: Alameda County has existing stakeholder advisory bodies, including the Behavioral Health Advisory Board and other stakeholder groups. The contractor may be required to support engagement with these bodies as needed. Meeting schedules vary by group and will be coordinated with the County.

19. No subject

Mar 16, 2026 4:22 PM

Question: Does the county have a list of SLEBs that it currently works with?

Answer: Certified SLEBs are listed in the online SLEB Supplier Query System (SSQS) (SSQS - SLEB Supplier Query System (https://sleb.acgov.org/#/find-a-supplier/)) under the “Find a Supplier” tab of the County’s SLEB website (Program Overview - Small, Local and Emerging Business (SLEB) Program - Alameda County (https://acgov.org/sleb/overview.htm)).