The UCS Office of Court Administration’s (OCA) Division of Professional and Court Services (DPCS) is soliciting proposals via this RFP for the purpose of providing motivational interviewing (MI) techniques to judges, drug court staff, clinicians, clinical supervisors, and peer recovery advocates affiliated with New York State Drug Treatment Courts.

UCS operates problem-solving courts, among them drug courts, which help judges and court staff respond to the needs of litigants and the community. Problem-solving courts look to the underlying issues that bring people into the court system, employ innovative approaches to address those issues, and seek to simplify the court process for litigants. A drug court involves an intervention by the court in cooperation with a team of specialists in social services, treatment, and criminal justice professionals in the local community. In return for a promise of a reduced sentence, appropriate non-violent addicted offenders are given the option of entering voluntarily into court-supervised treatment. The rules and conditions of participation are clearly stated in a contract entered into by the defendant, the defense attorney, the district attorney, and the court.

PROJECT INFORMATION

UCS is the recipient of an award (the “Grant Award”) by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) (the “Grantor”) to provide MI techniques to Drug Treatment Court staff to improve engagement of individuals in treatment, medication for addiction treatment, and recovery support services. Pursuant to the terms of the Grant Award, $276,456 is the maximum available funding for Project Services (as set forth in Article V below) performed during March 1, 2024 – September 30, 2027, provided, however, that such period may be extended upon mutual agreement of Grantor and UCS (the “Project Term”). UCS reserves the right to request a no-cost extension of the Project Term from the Grantor.

UCS intends to deem the selected applicant a “contractor” rather than a “subrecipient” for purposes of determining which federal requirements, if any, are binding on the selected applicant as an entity receiving Grant Award funding.

AWARD

UCS intends to award one contract for MI training services for a term commencing on or about March 1, 2024, and terminating on or about September 30, 2027 (“Contract Term”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Contract Term of any contract resulting from this RFP may extend to a term not to exceed five (5) years in total, which contract shall terminate upon the earlier of: (i) five (5) years from the contract commencement date; or (ii) the complete expenditure of funding available for Project Services, whichever is earlier, unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms of said contract. Awarded contractor shall be contractually obligated to provide the Project Services for the Project Term, as it may be amended or extended. UCS and awarded contractor shall communicate regularly concerning the remaining amount of grant funds and the approximate timing of complete expenditure.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Proposals will be considered only from applicants who meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) member, and proof of membership must be submitted to be considered for an award.

PROJECT SERVICES

UCS seeks proposals describing how the applicant will provide the services listed below (“Project Services”). Note, the Budget Periods indicated below reference the Budget Periods defined in Article VIII(d) (see pages 7–8, below). The selected applicant shall be required to:

1. In the First Budget Period and Third Budget Period, deliver on-demand MI web courses using interactive software compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for new treatment court practitioners or practitioners previously trained who need boosters. An extensive course series, covering the full range of MI practice methods and strategies, is expected. UCS staff will create three (3) cohorts with ten (10) practitioners in each group, for a total of thirty (30) participants each year.

a. The web courses should include web content for supervisors, managers, and coaches to teach coaching and assist with MI skill acquisition. These courses should also include information about implementation and sustainability of MI within the participants’ agency or court.

b. Web courses should be approximately sixty (60) minutes in length, including the time needed for participants to complete a multiple-item test at the end of the training to demonstrate learning transfer has occurred. Courses should offer continuing education hours upon completion.

c. Each web course should be supported with companion materials to enable agencies to convene small skill-building groups via facilitated digital conferencing software services to conduct exercises, discussions, and practice. Companion resources should offer either fixed leadership or rotating leadership capabilities and provide answer keys to assist these groups.

d. Each web course should provide a guided “notes packet” to allow the participant to take personal notes on each of the course’s successive content.

e. The selected applicant must host a monthly one-hour skills-building review session for all peers enrolled in the digital web courses.

2. During each of four Budget Periods, deliver one training per quarter (four (4) trainings per Budget Period) to a cohort of twenty-five (25) judges as part of a live virtual four-part training series on skills building (one hundred (100) judges will be trained over the course of the entire Contract Term). Sessions should explain the use of MI methods and how the use of brief communication techniques can increase a judge’s effectiveness in the compressed time frames (e.g., 2–5 minutes) that may be available to interact with a defendant appearing before the judge.

Session length of 60–120 minutes (or as negotiated) with opportunity for questions and discussion.

3. Deliver a two-day onsite basic training in the First Budget Period and a two-day advanced MI training in the Second Budget Period for peers and recovery coaches working in treatment courts; the total number of peers and recovery coaches to be trained in these trainings in both Budget Periods is thirty (30). A second two-day on-site basic training and two-day advanced MI training will be delivered in the Third Budget Period and the Fourth Budget Period, respectively, to peers and recovery coaches; the total number of peers and recovery coaches to be trained in these trainings in the Third Budget Period and the Fourth Budget Period is thirty (30).

4. Deliver a two-day onsite beginner training in the First Budget Period, a two-day advanced MI training in the Second Budget Period, and a two-day competency training in the Third Budget Period focused specifically to treatment court team members (fidelity coaches). Each training will be provided to as many as thirty-five (35) team members; however, the total number of fidelity coaches to be trained in these trainings shall not exceed seventy (70) treatment court team members.

5. Conduct pre- and post-training assessments for all training groups and provide feedback to the New York State Office for Justice Initiatives.

RFP Issue Date January 4, 2024

Deadline to Submit Written Questions January 16, 2024 at 2:00PM EST

Deadline to Submit Proposals February 2, 2024 at 2:00PM EST

Estimate Contract Start Date March 1, 2024

The UCS looks forward to your response.