On-Call Psychiatric Coverage

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking qualified providers, such as Physician Assistants or Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners, to deliver on-duty and on-call medical and psychiatric services at the Cherokee Mental Health Institute in Iowa. The contract, starting September 30, 2025, is for one year with two optional renewal years, requiring providers to be available by phone within five minutes and in person within twenty minutes during after-hours, weekends, and holidays. The scope emphasizes collaboration with agency medical staff, timely responses, and adherence to accepted medical standards. Proposals are evaluated primarily on meeting minimum criteria and lowest cost, with detailed submission instructions mandating email-only proposals by September 15, 2025, and questions due by September 10, 2025. The contract incorporates Iowa’s standard terms and conditions and appeals procedures governed by state administrative rules, with no federal FAR clauses referenced. The solicitation emphasizes strict communication protocols, a performance-based evaluation process, and specific availability and collaboration requirements, but does not specify packaging, shipping, or material handling standards. It also contains no references to federal acquisition clauses, security clearances, or business size certifications—only a mention of posting to a Targeted Small Business webpage. The contract’s primary deliverables are professional psychiatric and medical services, with compensation based on hourly rates for on-duty and on-call coverage, including holiday rates, without detailed line-item pricing or material supplies. Overall, the contract is structured around providing timely, qualified psychiatric support at the facility, governed by Iowa state regulations and standard contractual terms, with clear procedures for proposal submission, evaluation, and potential reconsideration.