Request for Proposals for School-Based Health Centers

FY 2008

Available Funding: Approximately $250,000 for 2 contracts for one year. Contracts may be renewed for two years. Funding in Year 2 is 75% ($93, 750) of original contract and funding in Year 3 is 50% ($62,500) of original contract.

Purpose: To provide start-up funding for school-based health centers that deliver primary and preventive health services and related social services to a school-age population on a school campus. Eligible Applicants: School districts, charter schools, and school district cooperatives

What is a School-Based Health Center?

A school-based health center is an entity established by a school district or by a school district jointly with a public health agency, health care provider, or university to deliver health care programs, prevention of emerging health threats that are specific to the district, and health services for students and their families at one or more schools in the district.

Eligible Respondents

Eligible respondents include school districts, charter schools, and school district cooperatives or any of the preceding jointly with a public health agency, university or a health care provider such as a hospital, community health center.

(Proposed*) Key Dates

Request for Proposal released February 26,2007

Deadline for submitting questions March 14, 2007

Answers to questions posted on the March 20, 2007 Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD)

Deadline for submitting proposals March 26, 2007 (2:00 p.m. C.S.T.)

Announcement of awards June 15, 2007

Contract start date September 1, 2007

*Actual deadlines and important dates can be obtained on the application or DSHS School Health website.

Funding is intended for applicants that:

have a large percentage of children who do not have access to primary health care services;

experience a lack of health care resources (e.g., funds, providers, facilities, etc.); and

have difficulty linking students with health resources in the community

FAQ: What can I use the funds for?

To provide preventive and primary health services to all requesting families in the school population

Funds are intended for start-up expenses and operational costs

Appropriate expenditures Minor remodeling of a school building for health services Equipment rental fees Clinic equipment and supplies Patient transportation Staff salaries, basic benefits, and contractual services

FAQ: Is a funding match required?

Yes. Participating communities shall provide local financial support for the school-based health center that may include actual dollars, services, or other in-kind contributions.

Matching funds may be obtained from any source available to the district including in-kind contributions, community and foundation grants, individual contributions, local governmental agency operating funds.

FAQ: What are the program requirements?

Programs must…

Provide health services under the guidance of the school district’s school health advisory council

Have a parent consent form for all students receiving services

In conjunction with other school district staff, must coordinate in planning and implementing health education and health programs

Participate in statewide data collection for evaluation of the effectiveness of school health services

Participate in annual meeting for DSHS funded school-based health center projects

FAQ: What services must be provided on-site?

Maintenance of a health record and a health plan for participating students and family members

Coordination of health activities with the patient’s primary physician (medical home)

Physical examinations including sports physical

Preventive health visits including Texas Health Steps (EPSDT) checkups

Dental screenings and referral for services

Immunizations for all children within the school’s attendance zone

Diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and minor injuries

FAQ: What services must be provided on-site? continued

Referral and case management of chronic illnesses and emergencies – on-site or through linkages with other health care providers who can provide care when referral is necessary

Basic laboratory services (on-site or by subcontract)

Dispensing of medications for treatment

Education and counseling programs (in coordination with classroom instructions) addressing nutrition, fitness, and the prevention of substance abuse, disease, and injury

Mental health screening and referral for psycho-social counseling

FAQ: What services are not allowed?

Family planning services shall not be provided by a school-based health center that receives funding through the Department of State Health Services. However, the school-based health center may treat and/or recommend treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and/or prenatal care.

FAQ: What are the staffing requirements?

Core personnel must include:

Physician/Medical Director – direct medical services of the SBHC and be available for consultations, to see referrals, and to review charts

Clinic Director – must be a Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant

Registered Nurse – should be on the school campus to coordinate services and to receive referrals.

FAQ: What are the staffing requirements?

Other personnel may include:

Clerk/secretary

Support staff – a part-time worker with administrative experience

Social worker

Mental health counselor

Research specialist

FAQ: What are the reporting requirements?

Quarterly and annual program reports. Data collection will include number of encounters, number of visits per student, frequency of common physical/mental health problems, attendance data, and data regarding patients with chronic conditions

Financial reports. Budgetary and expenditure reports including third party reimbursements

How to prepare your application?

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION – Stylistic Requirements

All pages clearly and consecutively numbered

Original and 4 copies unbound, but secured with binder clips or rubber bands

Typed

No less than single-spaced

No less than12-point font on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with 1" margins

Blank forms provided in SECTION VII. BLANK FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS must be used

Signed in ink by an authorized official (copies must be signed but need not bear an original signature)

An electronic disc copy may be included

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Your proposal should include a TABLE OF CONTENTS and

FORMS A THROUGH P

Next Section – Selected Forms Explained

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Form F: Assessment Narrative GuidelinesSix Required Items

1) Describe role and experience in public health assessment activities

2) List names of who completed the assessment with dates

3) Synopsis of the community – geographically boundaries (urban or rural, physical environment), demographic data, socioeconomic data, and description of community-wide health status

4) Target population (geographic service area, characteristics of population, health status of population, current population served)

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Form F: Assessment Narrative GuidelinesSix Required Items continued

5) Gaps in resources and potential barriers to improving health status

6) List the top five health priorities identified by the community assessment. Be sure to include the process utilized in the assessment.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Form G: Performance Measures – REQUIRED PERFORMANCE MEASURE

Measure related to positive health outcomes. Can include physical and/or dental health. Example: # of students with a medical home

Measure related to mental health that utilizes PEIMS behavioral referral data. Example: # of school discipline referrals before and after counseling

Measure related to reducing school absences or improving attendance among students with a chronic illness. Utilize needs assessment to make decisions about which illness (or illnesses) to track.

At least one additional measure for the School-based Health Center developed by the contractor.

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION - Form G: Performance Measures Performance measures must be specific, measurable, time-phased, and

feasibleType Measure Example

Outcome measures the actual impact or public benefit of an entity’s actions

% of clients rehabilitated% decline in inappropriate ER usage% decline in school absences

Output or Process Counts the goods/services provided

# of clients served# of clinic sessions

Efficiency Measure the cost, unit cost, or productivity associated with a given outcome or output

Average cost per client servedAverage time per visit

Explanatory Shows the resources used to produce services and display factors that affect entity performance

# of clients eligible for services# and type of available health services

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION Form I: Budget

The RFP contains the following materials to assist you through the budget process:-- Budget Summary Instructions-- Budget Summary Example-- Detailed Budget Category Forms – General Information -- Personnel Budget Category Detail Form Example-- Travel Budget Category Detail Form Example-- Equipment Budget Category Detail Form Example -- Supplies Budget Category Detail Form Example-- Contractual Budget Category Detail Form Example-- Other Budget Category Detail Form Example

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Form J: Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting

Required Forms - Respondents MUST provide a historically underutilized business (HUP) subcontracting plan (FORM J).

Check all appropriate boxes on Form J that apply

What is a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB)? A HUB is a business formed for the purpose of making a profit in which at least 51 percent of the business is owned, operated, and controlled by selected ethnicity groups and women who are economically disadvantaged.

For more information and questions, contact Nancy Eichner at (512) 458-7111 ext. 2782

before February 26, 2007

The RFP will be available online starting around February 26, 2006 at http://

www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth

Check for the Submission Deadline on the Website