Daniel's Law Pilot Program

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is releasing a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the Daniel’s Law Pilot Program, which aims to establish a health-led community-based behavioral health crisis response system. This initiative responds to recommendations from the Daniel’s Law Task Force (DLTF) and is grounded in state legislation (Chapter 57 of 2023 and Chapter 53 of 2025). With a total of $6 million in available funding, OMH intends to fund at least three pilot programs—one each in an urban, suburban, and rural area of New York State—aimed at creating a compassionate and trauma-informed response to behavioral health crises across the lifespan. The purpose of this grant is to develop crisis response systems that minimize reliance on law enforcement and instead prioritize trained behavioral health professionals and peer support staff. The programs will align with best practices outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), focusing on timely intervention, inter-agency collaboration, and community-based solutions. Services may include triage, peer and family support, care coordination, individual and family counseling, crisis and safety planning, and follow-up. Law enforcement involvement is limited to situations involving a clear threat of violence, and co-responder models involving police are explicitly not supported. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and county or municipal entities with demonstrated experience delivering behavioral health services. Applicants must apply through the Statewide Financial System (SFS), meet prequalification requirements, and submit proof of intent to apply to the relevant Local Governmental Unit (LGU) or municipal authority. Each application must also include a letter of commitment from the county or city leadership where the program will be implemented. Submission requires a completed proposal narrative, attachments as one combined PDF, and a budget in Excel format. Evaluation of proposals will be based on a 100-point scale, including factors such as the proposed implementation approach, staffing, data collection, diversity and inclusion, and financial assessment. Proposals must score at least 75 to be considered. Funding is capped at $2 million per applicant. Contracts will be for up to three years, with start dates anticipated for July 1, 2026. OMH reserves the right to reassign contracts in the event of underperformance or inability to meet startup milestones. The deadline for proposal submission is January 12, 2026, by 2:00 PM EST. A mandatory bidder's conference will be held via webinar on November 12, 2025. Questions regarding the RFP must be submitted by November 21, 2025, with official responses published on December 15, 2025. Applicants are strongly advised to begin preparations early and avoid last-minute submissions due to SFS platform limitations. Award notifications are expected by February 3, 2026. The RFP and related materials, including templates and guidance, are available via OMH’s website.

Begin SFS application early; prequalification takes 5–10 business days; incomplete submissions disqualify; ensure file formats/naming comply with guidelines.