New York Peer Specialist IPA

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) invites proposals for the New York Peer Specialist Independent Practice Association (IPA) to strengthen and advance the statewide peer support workforce. OMH, as a state-level agency responsible for mental health oversight and service development, seeks to promote professionalization, sustainability, and equity within peer support services through the creation and coordination of this independent practice association. The IPA will serve as a centralized statewide hub offering leadership, training, technical assistance, and collaborative infrastructure for Certified Peer Specialists, Credentialed Family Peer Advocates, and Youth Peer Advocates. The initiative’s purpose is to expand the reach, quality, and integrity of peer support services across New York State. It aims to ensure fidelity to peer support values and best practices while promoting opportunities for career development and supervision within the discipline. The IPA will facilitate connections among peer workers and organizations, strengthening local and regional peer support systems through mentoring networks, continuing education programs, and a robust statewide communication infrastructure. Equity and inclusion remain central to this effort, emphasizing outreach to historically underserved and marginalized communities. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations incorporated in New York State under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. At least 51% of the governing board and a preponderance of staff must be individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions and involvement with the public mental health system. Prequalification in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) is mandatory prior to proposal submission. The RFP prohibits mailed or emailed applications; submissions must be made entirely online through SFS. The funding scope includes a single annual award of $485,000 per year for five years, with a one-time startup supplement of up to $100,000 in the first year. Funds are intended for staffing, coordination, training, and operational support to establish and maintain the IPA’s statewide presence. Administrative overhead is capped at 15%. Applicants must adhere to OMH’s reporting and monitoring requirements, including monthly and quarterly progress reports and annual summaries on measurable outcomes. No cost-sharing or matching requirement is specified. Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, with points distributed among applicant experience, vision and peer values incorporation, implementation strategy, diversity and inclusion, and financial capacity. To qualify for award, proposals must achieve a minimum score of 75. The RFP was released on October 7, 2025, with questions due October 28, 2025, and responses posted November 20, 2025. Proposals are due December 18, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. Award notifications are expected February 12, 2026, and contracts will begin January 1, 2027, for a five-year term. Questions must be submitted in writing to the Issuing Officer, Amanda Szczepkowski, via OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov.

Start SFS prequalification and uploads at least 5 days before deadline to avoid submission errors; combine all attachments into one PDF except budget.