Re-allocation of an Existing Apt Treatment Fulton

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is soliciting proposals for the reallocation and operation of an Apartment Treatment Program for adults with serious mental illness in Fulton County. The intent of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to establish a program capable of serving 11 individuals in scattered-site apartment units. These units must be developed entirely by the awarded applicant, as the current program is not operational. The primary population targeted includes adults with serious mental illness, particularly those being discharged from psychiatric centers or hospitals, those in shelters or street homelessness, or residents of OMH-licensed community residences with extended stays. Individuals with Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) orders receive priority, and at least 50% of referrals should come from State psychiatric centers. The program falls under OMH’s commitment to providing evidence-based, person-centered care. Services must support individuals in achieving wellness, recovery, independence, and integration into the community. This includes physical and emotional healthcare, therapeutic programming, educational and employment support, and help with developing healthy relationships and life skills. The program will follow the OMH’s Apartment Treatment model, which is transitional in nature. Discharge planning must begin at intake to ensure that residents move toward more independent housing options. Staff are expected to be skilled in engagement, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care practices, with knowledge of housing options and local resources. Funding for ongoing operations will be structured under OMH’s fiscal model and supported through a combination of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and state aid if needed. In addition to operational support, Program Development Grant (PDG) funds are available to assist with start-up expenses. As of the current rate, PDG support totals $9,677 per bed, totaling approximately $106,447 for the 11 units. These funds are intended to help with the development of appropriate apartment settings, ideally one-bedroom or studio units. All units must obtain valid Certificates of Occupancy and be certified by the Central New York Field Office before use. Applicants must be not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations currently operating OMH-licensed Apartment Treatment Programs within OMH’s Central New York Region. Agencies with a proven track record of working with OMH-priority populations and transitioning individuals to more independent living arrangements are particularly encouraged to apply. Prequalification through New York State’s Statewide Financial System (SFS) is mandatory. Applications must be submitted online via SFS, and the use of the designated budget templates (Appendix B and B1) is required. Physical or email submissions are not accepted. The proposal must address several key components including the population to be served, implementation timeline, staffing and service plan, agency performance, and diversity/equity commitments. Evaluation will be based on these sections with a total of 100 points available. Minimum eligibility requirements must be met to proceed to full evaluation. A score of 70 or higher is required for contract consideration. If the selected agency fails to meet post-award requirements, OMH reserves the right to reassign the contract to the next highest scoring applicant. The RFP was released on September 25, 2024. Questions were due by October 16, 2024, with responses posted by October 30, 2024. The application deadline is November 12, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST, and award notification is expected by December 17, 2024. The anticipated contract start date is July 1, 2025. This program is expected to be recurring, with contracts awarded for a five-year term, subject to approval by the NYS Attorney General and Office of the State Comptroller.