PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES

The City of East Orange, New Jersey, is actively seeking proposals for specialized Psychiatric Services to bolster its Health & Human Services’ Substance Abuse Treatment Program. The solicitation aims to secure two qualified practitioners: a Consulting Psychiatrist and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse (APN). These roles are crucial for providing early intervention support, including comprehensive psychiatric assessments and psychopharmacological treatment for clients managing co-occurring mental illnesses alongside substance use disorders. The Consulting Psychiatrist will be responsible for mental health assessments, diagnosing co-occurring conditions, facilitating treatment planning, and prescribing medication for up to ten hours weekly, with an anticipated maximum of 200 initial assessments within a year. The Advanced Practice Nurse will operate on a per diem basis for up to four hours weekly, under the supervision of a licensed psychiatrist, performing similar assessment and treatment planning duties, ensuring that both behavioral and pharmacologic treatment approaches are evidence-based and aligned with recognized principles for client recovery. The contract term for successful respondents will span one year, from October 2019 through November 2020. Prospective contractors must satisfy rigorous mandatory minimum requirements for each role. The Consulting Psychiatrist must be Board-certified or board-eligible in psychiatry, holding a valid New Jersey license to practice and prescribe medication, along with valid NJ CDS and DEA Registrations. The Advanced Practice Nurse must be Board-certified as an APN in psychiatric or mental health, possessing prescriptive authority in New Jersey, and valid NJ CDS and DEA Registrations. Both positions require demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment, excellent communication skills, a positive and flexible demeanor, and the capacity to swiftly synthesize medical and psychiatric data for evidence-based clinical recommendations. Desired qualifications include experience working with underserved, transient populations and individuals facing complex clinical co-morbidities (e.g., co-occurring mental health, substance abuse, and physical health challenges). Furthermore, all professional service contractors are mandated to comply with specific New Jersey statutes concerning Affirmative Action (N.J.S.A. 10:5-33 et seq.), Business Registration (N.J.S.A. 52:32-44), and Disclosure of Ownership (N.J.S.A. 52:25-24.2). Submissions must be enclosed in a sealed envelope, clearly indicating the consultant's name and the title “PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES,” and addressed to the Purchasing Agent, City of East Orange, City Hall, 44 City Hall Plaza, East Orange, NJ 07018. The definitive deadline for proposal submission is **Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at 1:00 PM**, at which time proposals will be publicly opened and read aloud in the East Orange City Hall Council Chamber. Required submission documents include a Non-Collusion Affidavit, Disclosure of Ownership Form, Insurance Requirement Acknowledgement Form, EEO/Affirmative Action Compliance Notice, Business Registration Certificate, Professional Services Entity Information Form, Qualification Affidavit, Submission Form, Letter of Intent, and Letter of Qualification. Bidders are required to submit one unbound original, four additional hard copies, and one electronic copy of their sealed submission. A non-refundable fee of $25.00 applies to RFP packets obtained physically. For any inquiries, interested parties should contact Lisa Jackson, Purchasing Agent, at (973) 266-5162. Proposals cannot be modified or withdrawn for sixty (60) days after the submission deadline.