Connecticut DMHAS Mental Health Intensive Residential Program

Connecticut DMHAS is accepting proposals through September 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET to develop or expand intensive mental-health residential capacity that helps transition individuals from extended state-facility stays into community-based care.

Funding$13,275,000 total state funding; four to five anticipated awards; contract cost per award to be determined by DMHAS during selection/negotiation; 2.5-year initial term with possible extension subject to funding availability

DeadlineSeptember 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET. This remains open only for proposers that met the mandatory July 23 Letter of Intent and August 6 bidder-conference requirements; failure to satisfy either prerequisite is disqualifying.

Last verifiedAugust 30, 2026

Required next actionFor organizations that timely submitted the required July 23 Letter of Intent and attended the mandatory August 6 bidder conference, immediately incorporate Addendum 1 into the final proposal, confirm the Connecticut site or documented site-acquisition plan, demonstrate at least five years of experience serving adults with mental-health and justice involvement and at least five years developing/operating residential treatment programs, finalize a 24/7 staffing plan with at least two staff on every shift, and submit the complete proposal by September 3, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET. Organizations that missed either mandatory prerequisite should not treat this as a fresh-entry opportunity.

Broad Eligibility

Eligible proposers are private provider organizations (non-state nonprofit or proprietary corporations or partnerships) and municipalities. Individuals are ineligible. The program site must be in Connecticut or the proposer must present a credible plan to secure one. Minimum qualifications include at least five years of experience working with adults with mental-health challenges and justice involvement and at least five years developing and implementing residential treatment programs. A Letter of Intent due July 23, 2026 and attendance at the mandatory August 6 bidder conference were required; missing either requirement disqualifies a proposer.

Atlas Analysis

This is a substantial Connecticut behavioral-health procurement for supervised mental-health intensive residential capacity, not a general grant. DMHAS has $13.275 million in state funding and expects four to five awards covering at least 25 beds, with each program generally serving four to eight adults with serious mental illness and forensic histories. Addendum 1 confirms DMHAS wants statewide geographic distribution, clinical services will be supplied by the applicable Local Mental Health Authority, startup costs may be proposed separately, and there is no preset startup-cost maximum because those costs will be handled case by case. Strongest applicants will pair an implementation-ready Connecticut site, highly experienced residential/forensic behavioral-health operations, credible 24/7 staffing, and a defensible startup and operating budget. Because both the required LOI and mandatory bidder conference have passed, Atlas should present this as currently open only to already-qualified pipeline respondents rather than a new-entry opportunity.

Source verificationOfficial government source · portal.ct.govAtlas last verified this record August 30, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗