Suicide Prevention for Adult Males Solicitation

The Ohio Department of Health is soliciting proposals under the Violence and Injury Prevention Section for a program titled Suicide Prevention for Adult Males Solicitation. This initiative is designed to expand statewide suicide prevention programming with a particular emphasis on adult males ages 25 to 59, especially in counties experiencing high suicide burdens. The project aligns with Ohio’s existing suicide prevention plan and fulfills requirements of the CDC Comprehensive Suicide Prevention cooperative agreement. The anticipated program period runs from October 15, 2025, through June 30, 2027, with up to two additional renewal years extending through June 30, 2029, subject to funding availability and satisfactory performance. The program seeks to strengthen prevention efforts by implementing evidence-based strategies and convening multisector stakeholders across Ohio. High-burden counties identified include Lucas, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Summit, Mahoning, Richland, Marion, Clark, Montgomery, and Hamilton, though additional counties may be considered. Contractors will be required to perform activities such as environmental scans, recruitment of multisector partners, development of action plans, and supporting the establishment and operation of Suicide Fatality Review Committees. Deliverables will also include statewide training and the implementation of tiered interventions such as LifeSide Ohio, Question-Persuade-Refer training for health professionals, and Man Therapy. Eligibility for applicants is limited to state, local, and tribal governments; nonprofit organizations including community-based, faith-based, and tribal groups; higher education institutions; and hospitals. Applicants must also demonstrate organizational experience in suicide prevention, have a valid Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist Assistant license, and submit a letter of support from Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services. These eligibility requirements are mandatory and proposals without them will not be considered. Offerors must show evidence of prior collaboration with stakeholders and state partners, as well as the technical capacity to convene conferences or summits and implement evidence-based practices. The solicitation was posted on September 3, 2025. The inquiry period runs from September 3 to September 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. with questions directed to Procurement@odh.ohio.gov. Full applications, including both technical and cost proposals, are due by September 24, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. and must be emailed to the same address with “DOH58122 Proposals” in the subject line. All components must be clearly labeled. Late submissions will not be accepted. There is no pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent, but applicants must adhere to these strict submission guidelines. Evaluation of proposals will be based on technical merit, organizational profile, staffing, and the strength of the proposed work plan. The scoring rubric allocates a total of 750 points: 500 for the technical proposal, 200 for the cost proposal, and 50 for minority business enterprise set-aside participation. The evaluation emphasizes capacity to reduce stigma, promote evidence-based interventions, convene a male action group, and target high-burden counties. Proposals must demonstrate clear deliverables and measurable impact. Funding for the project is capped at $200,000 per award period. Only one award will be made for this cycle. Funding is contingent on appropriations by the Ohio General Assembly. Matching funds are not required. The awardee may receive multiple agreements across the project period to ensure continuity. This RFP is an opportunity for organizations with demonstrated expertise in suicide prevention to support Ohio’s statewide strategy and address the pressing need for targeted intervention among adult men, a population with disproportionately high suicide rates.

Applicants must ensure all required documents are submitted, meet strict deadlines, and correctly label technical and cost proposals.