The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT), headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, invites proposals to help it identify appropriate tele-mental health technologies for remote and virtual delivery of core services to clients in diverse settings.
Client:
The Center for Victims of Torture
RFP Title:
Recommendations for Context-Appropriate Tele-Mental Health Technology
Funding Level:
$45,000-$75,000 USD
Eligibility:
Applicants must have the capacity to liaise with CVT staff in the US and abroad.
About The Center for Victims of Torture
The Center for Victims of Torture works toward a future in which torture ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are an international nonprofit dedicated to healing survivors of torture and violent conflict. We provide direct care for those who have been tortured, train partners around the world who can prevent and treat torture, and advocate for human rights and an end to torture. CVT’s current strategic plan emphasizes growth to expand core activities, including direct services, which currently include psychosocial counseling, psychotherapy, psychoeducation, psychological first aid, crisis stabilization, trauma-informed physiotherapy, case management, and staff care. As part of CVT’s strategic efforts to expand the number of survivors who benefit from our services abroad, CVT is both designing new clinical interventions and seeking innovative new ways to deliver them. Remote care is an essential factor in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity of services, and in reaching populations in hostile or insecure environments as well as those facing social, health, and legal barriers that may restrict movement.
The current RFP therefore supports the following strategic goals:
· Develop and test innovative approaches that extend the reach and effectiveness of rehabilitation services for survivors
· Develop plans to enhance program continuity and sustainability
· Further the realization of the right to rehabilitation for survivors globally and increase access to high quality and appropriate mental health and psychosocial support invest in technology systems and develop technical infrastructure that facilitate seamless and secure international communications and functionality
CVT’s full strategic plan is available for viewing on its website.
RFP: Tele-Mental Health Technology
Summary Statement of Work and Deliverables
CVT delivers services over ten sites internationally (non-US). Its clinical team consisting primarily of psychotherapists, psychosocial counselors, physiotherapy and rehabilitation staff, and social workers totals approximately 130 team members. The services they deliver can be categorized as intensive (specialized) rehabilitation services and non-intensive (non-specialized) psychosocial or resilience services. Intensive rehabilitation services are the primary form of service delivery. These services may vary in, but primarily use a group modality and involve 5-10 weekly sessions.
The key deliverable of this RFP is to provide recommendations and guidance on which low, medium or high-tech available tele-health technologies CVT can employ to deliver its services safely and effectively using in its international (non-US) site locations which include both urban and refugee camp settings. The selected vendor is expected to collaborate with a key clinical and administrative points of contact and other consultants in each project to identify which technologies adaptations may be feasible in that context. Additionally, the vendor should provide recommendations of methods of use for telehealth utilizing low-tech solutions. An example of this would be SMS stabilization messaging systems using prepaid phones.
The CVT anticipates needs for tele-health capabilities for the following categories. All telehealth systems proposed, technology, training, product cost estimates and oversight functions must adhere to standards as dictated by HIPAA and HITECH legislation. Multiple modalities may be required for each of the following categories, based on local context and capacities. A full list of CVT sites, services, and operational parameters is found below in Annex A.
· Tele-counseling sessions – individual and group
· Tele-physiotherapy sessions – individual and group
· Tele-psychoeducation
· Tele-psychological first aid
· Client stabilization and crisis management
· Remote group information-sharing sessions
· Tele-staff care – individual and group
· Tele-supervision – individual and group
Vendor Competencies and Qualifications
· Are you familiar with LMIC or humanitarian settings utilization of technology?
· Are you well grounded in latest and emerging technology trends in telemental/telebehavioral health?
· Are you well grounded in knowledge of software and technology requirements needed?
· Are you familiar with both low-tech and more tech-heavy methods of telehealth?
· Are you able to help train staff, as needed, in the technologies related to telemental/ telebehavioral health?
· Are you able to advise the CVT Tech Department on what support & maintenance any recommended platforms or systems would require?
· Are you able to provide price quotes for the technology infrastructure related to any recommended planforms or systems?
· Are you able to provide options for future integrations between telehealth platforms and electronic health records systems?
Eligibility Criteria
· No sub-contracting
· Must be a business associate of HHSC within the meaning of the federal privacy and security laws as stated in 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164, sub-parts A, C, and E.
· Must agree to contractual provisions to prevent support to foreign terrorism and perpetrators of human rights atrocities, as stated in 2 CFR 200
· Must agree to contractual provisions to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation, to prevent trafficking in persons, and to promote child protection, as stated in 2 CFR 200
· Experience implementing 5+ similar projects
· Registered to conduct business or consulting services in country of operations
The successful responded must agree to additional vetting, including but not limited to reference checks, background check, and/or review of names of key personnel and leadership against risk management databases.
Evaluation Criteria and Scoring Rubric
· Application demonstrates an ability to assess and understand CVT’s particular needs
· Application demonstrates a feasible process and timeline for delivering outputs within three months of contract signing, or October 31st, 2020
· Application demonstrates a cost-efficient budget that is sensitive to the humanitarian and not-for-profit nature of CVT’s work
Timeline
CVT to distribute RFP Friday, June 26, 2020
Vendor deadline to submit questions Friday, July 3, 2020
CVT to answer questions submitted by vendors Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Vendor deadline to submit responses Friday, July 10, 2020
CVT to select vendor and inform respondents Tuesday, July 14th, 2020
CVT and successful respondent consultations July 15 – July 16, 2020
Agreement signed Friday, July 17, 2020
Annex A: Structure and Service Overview
In addition to services in the US, CVT delivers services at more than ten sites overseas. They are summarized as follows:
- Middle East: Amman and Mafraq, Jordan
- Size of Clinical Team: 30
- Average clients per year: 1,000
- Other regional locations
- Size of Clinical Team: 10
- Average clients per year: 200
- Ethiopia: Mai-Aini & Adi Harush Refugee Camps, Tigray Region
- Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp, Gambella Region
- Size of Clinical Team: 63
- Average clients per year: 1,000
- Kenya: Nairobi
- Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County
- Dadaab Refugee Camp, Garissa County
- Size of Clinical Team: 64
- Average clients per year: 1,450
- Uganda:
- Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp
- Gulu
- Size of Clinical Team: 22
- Average clients per year: 600
Service Context:
Urban centers in Jordan and neighboring countries.
Services:
· Individual and group counseling for adults
· Individual and group physiotherapy for adults
· Integrated counseling and physiotherapy for children and families
· Trauma resilience services (psychosocial sensitization and practice) for groups
Staff support:
· Internal individual and group clinical supervision
· External individual and group clinical supervision
· Internal staff support and self-care trainings
· External staff support and self-care trainings
Infrastructure:
· Clinical staff have basic mobile phones and laptop computers
· Clinical staff may upgrade to tablets and/or smartphones
· Many clients (refugees) have access to smartphones
· Most external staff (partners) have access to smartphones and/or computers
· Internet services are largely unrestricted
· Local IT support sector knowledge and skill is high
· Jordan-based IT specialist on-staff
· Internet network and cellular connectivity is high quality
Rural or conflict-affected areas in the Middle East:
Services:
· Individual and group counseling for adults
· Trauma resilience services (psychosocial sensitization and practice) for groups
· Stabilization services
Staff support:
· Internal individual and group clinical supervision
· External individual and group clinical supervision
· Internal staff support and self-care trainings
· External staff support and self-care trainings
Infrastructure:
· Many clients (refugees) have access to smartphones
· Most external staff (partners) have access to smartphones and/or computers
· Connectivity can be unreliable
· Local IT support sector is limited
Urban Nairobi, Kakuma Refugee Camp & Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya:
Services:
· Individual and group counseling for adults
· Individual and group physiotherapy for adults
· Aftercare group services for LGBTI clients
· Aftercare group services for parents
· Trauma resilience services (psychosocial sensitization and practice) for groups
Staff support:
· Internal individual and group clinical supervision
· Internal staff support and self-care trainings
· External staff support and self-care trainings
Infrastructure:
· Clinical staff have smart phones and laptop computers
· Many clients (refugees) have access to phones and some smartphones
· Most external staff (partners) have access to smartphones and/or computers
· Internet services are largely unrestricted
· Local IT support sector knowledge and skill is high
· Kenya-based IT specialist is not on-staff
· Internet network and cellular connectivity is moderately high quality with periodic interruptions
Mai-Aini & Adi Harush Refugee Camps, Tigray Region. Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp, Gambella Region, Kenya:
Services:
· Individual and group counseling for adults
· Trauma resilience services (psychosocial sensitization and practice) for groups
· Stabilization/crisis management
Staff support:
· Internal individual and group clinical supervision
· Internal staff support and self-care trainings
· External staff support and self-care trainings
Infrastructure:
· National clinical staff have basic mobile phones and laptop computers
· Refugee clinical staff have basic mobile phone, but no computers
· Many clients (refugees) have access to phones and some have smartphones
· Most external staff (partners) have access to smartphones and/or computers
· Internet services are largely unrestricted
· Local IT support sector knowledge and skill is moderate
· Ethiopia-based IT specialist is not on-staff
· Internet network and cellular connectivity is medium quality in Tigray and very poor in Gambella
Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp, Gulu, Uganda:
Services:
· Individual and group counseling for adults
· Psychological First Aid (Bidi Bidi)
· Makarere University student internship program (Gulu)
· Joint diploma program with Makarere University (Gulu)
Staff support:
· Internal individual and group clinical supervision
· Internal staff support and self-care trainings
· External staff support and self-care trainings
Infrastructure:
· Clinical staff have basic mobile phones and laptop computers/tablets
· In both locations, most clients do not have access to phones or smartphones
· Most external staff (partners) have access to smartphones and/or computers
· Internet services are largely unrestricted but can be unstable
· Local IT support sector knowledge and skill is moderate
· Uganda-based IT specialist is not on-staff currently
· Internet network and cellular connectivity is poor quality in Bidi Bidi and in the remote communities around Gulu where clients are seen. These connections are moderate in Gulu
How to apply:
Application Components
RFP Response – No more than 5 pages
Summary ½ page
Technical approach 2 pages
Background and prior experience ½ page
Budget summary and detail ½ page
Key personnel credentials ½ page
Timeline with milestones 1 page
· Names and contact information for 2-3 references (clients)
· CVs of key personnel
· Sample products
Any and all costs incurred in the development of proposals, (i.e. preparing and submitting, product/service demonstrations, oral presentations, etc.) shall be the sole responsibility of the vendor.
Contact Information and Submission Procedure
The issuing officer for this RFP also serves as the point of contact for questions and RFP responses. The issuing officer is:
Mike Nation, IT Director and HIPAA Security Officer
2356 University Avenue West, Suite 430
Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA 55114
Tel: 612.436.4881
mnation@cvt.org
All responses should be typed and in PDF format. All required components and any optional annexes should be combined into one document. Responses should be received no later than 11:59 pm US Central Time on July 10, 2020 with the subject line “CVT RFP Response – Tele-Mental Health Technology”