Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

The County of Orange seeks to contract for comprehensive inpatient behavioral health services, including psychiatric inpatient care and co-occurring substance use disorder treatment, at a licensed, Medi-Cal-certified, and LPS-designated facility within Orange County. The contract period spans from October 1, 2026, through June 30, 2029, structured in three sequential one-year periods, with services required to be delivered in compliance with Title 9 California Code of Regulations, the California Welfare and Institutions Code, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 456, and other federal and state standards governing mental health care. Providers must ensure high-quality, person-centered, trauma-informed care from admission through stabilization and transition to lower levels of care, with strict adherence to clinical timelines including psychiatric evaluations within 24 hours and psychosocial assessments within 72 hours of intake. Staffing must include a psychiatric medical director, bilingual personnel, and individuals trained in accordance with SB 43, with all operations subject to county oversight, utilization review protocols, and monthly performance reporting. The contract imposes stringent financial, legal, and operational requirements, including a maximum allowable expenditure ranging from $6 million to $60 million, with payments tied to submitted invoices processed within 30 days of receipt. Contractors are prohibited from using funds for lobbying, bonuses, personal expenses, non-compliant rent, or supplanting existing funding, and must uphold prevailing wage laws, minimum wage standards, and non-discrimination policies in hiring. Financial reporting must reflect client ability-to-pay fee structures and third-party revenue collection efforts, while all data and records must be maintained securely in compliance with HIPAA and OMB Circular A-130, with electronic backups, encryption, and tracked physical shipments for PHI. Offerors must provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier, disclose conflicts of interest, litigation history, ownership changes, and campaign contributions, and submit certifications such as Form 700 and a Non-Collusion Affidavit. Proposals must be submitted electronically by April 24, 2026, in PDF format only through the County’s OpenGov portal, with evaluations based on responsiveness, financial stability, experience, and overall conformity to requirements without formal weighting. The County retains full authority for inspection, audit, and acceptance decisions, with unannounced site visits permitted, and reserves the right to withhold payment or terminate for noncompliance.