FAQs - Treatment Services Solicitations

Treatment Services Solicitations

Q: Is Quest one of your approved vendors to do the testing as testing would be done there not just collection and mail out.

Answer

The United States Probation Office is soliciting for drug testing services in conjunction with substance abuse treatment. The selected vendor will collect the urine specimens and ship them to the contracted national drug testing laboratory, per the procedures outlined in the Request for Proposal.

Q: Is the U.S. Probation Office soliciting for a particular service such as residential treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, individuals, detox, etc.?

Answer

As indicated in Section B of the Request for Proposal, the U.S. Probation Office is soliciting drug treatment services to include the following: urine collection, intake assessment report, individual counseling, and group counseling. The contracting provider shall provide treatment only as authorized on the Probation Form 45 and will vary dependent upon each client’s needs and the discretion of the referring United States Probation Officer.

Q: Can the contracting agency discontinue the contract if needed at the yearly intervals should significant health issues arise? What would happen at that point? Would Probation have to re-open contracting? Would the contracting agency be responsible for fin

Answer

After the first year, each subsequent year on a BPA is an option year. The option is exercised using the SF30 modification. These are signed by both parties (bi-lateral modification), so both the vendor and the government are in agreement with exercising the option year. If a vendor chooses not to continue at the time of exercising an option, the purchase order will expire for the fiscal year, and the vendor could resolicit services.

Q: Over the past five years there have been significant changes in circumstance, COVID and telehealth being one of the most pronounced changes. What options, if any, are available to contracting agencies should changes be needed (i.e., telehealth options)?

Answer

The use of telehealth services is an optional service that is included in each solicitation and can be utilized throughout the term of the agreement. However, as noted in the solicitation, telehealth is for the benefit of the Judiciary. Telehealth would not be appropriate to assist the contracting agency with staffing issues. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts has indicated that if our district chooses to allow telehealth in the interest of continuity of care (interest of the Judiciary), that is permissible. The vendor is responsible for knowing how they can provide telehealth, following State requirements, confidentiality, HIPAA, etc. As is stated in the Statement of Work, telehealth is authorized on a case-by-case basis and for the benefit of the judiciary. Telehealth is not intended as a benefit or convenience to the vendor.

Q: According to the Solicitation, it appears that all sex offender and mental health clients must receive an evaluation by the treating agency at the onset of treatment. Is this correct?

Answer

The terms “shall provide” and “shall ensure,” as indicated in the Solicitation, means that the contracting provider must be capable of providing the services listed. Only those services authorized on the Probation Form 45 should be provided and may vary dependent upon each client’s needs and the discretion of the referring United States Probation Officer. EMQs for assessment would be included in Section B to advise the potential offeror of the estimated number of assessments that will be requested within a month. Subsequently, if the Prob 45 has authorized an assessment, then the vendor shall provide it in accordance with the SOW requirements.

United States Probation and Pretrial Services

Western District of Louisiana

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FAQs - Treatment Services Solicitations

Treatment Services Solicitations