Opportunity Overview
Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) is seeking one or more qualified independent vendors operating licensed Colorado Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs) to provide 10–15 high-acuity beds statewide for children and youth with acute mental-health and complex behavioral needs. The procurement is issued through the Office of Children, Youth, and Families, Division of Child Welfare, Division of Contracts and Procurement.
Solicitation and Deadline
Current amended solicitation: RFP-IHFA-2027000022-2. Proposal deadline: October 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM MDT. The current amended procurement metadata identifies Addendum 1 and an optional public opening at 1:15 PM MDT. ColoradoVSS remains controlling and should be checked immediately before submission.
The solicitation was issued September 1, 2026 and amended September 9, 2026. Questions were due September 8. State responses were scheduled for posting to ColoradoVSS on September 15, so respondents should review the live record for any additional Q&A or later addenda before finalizing a proposal.
Scope
Required services include intensive stabilization, clinical interventions, skills training, robust transition planning, trauma-informed and evidence-based treatment, behavior-crisis and runaway-prevention protocols, psychiatric medication management, educational coordination, family and placing-authority collaboration, and discharge planning. The initial term is expected to run January 1 through December 31, 2027, with up to four additional one-year renewals at State discretion.
Bidder Qualifications
Respondents must demonstrate applicable Colorado PRTF licensing/designation compliance, Health First Colorado Medicaid provider enrollment or the ability to enroll, facility-school compliance, relevant organizational and population-specific experience, qualified staffing and supervision, quality-assurance and outcome-reporting processes, and procedures for authorization denials and high-acuity admissions/discharges. Colorado Medicaid enrollment requirements for in-state PRTFs include applicable CDHS licensing, Behavioral Health Administration requirements, recognized accreditation, NPI/enrollment documentation, and other current provider-enrollment conditions.
Budget, Forms, and Submission
Contract ceiling: not stated in the accessible current solicitation extract. Respondents must submit a prospective annual budget that includes placement and vacant-bed rates and specified cost categories. Because this is a service procurement rather than a grant, grant match/cost-share terminology is not applicable.
The proposal package calls for a narrative response, prospective annual budget, sample monthly invoice, and completed Signature Page. Published exhibits include CDHS Original Contract Terms & Conditions, a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement, HB 24-1038 materials, and Addendum 1. Respondents should use the current amended package and acknowledge addenda exactly as required.
Submission: the indexed solicitation package identifies an electronic submission path and the current ColoradoVSS record is controlling. Respondents should verify the live amended instructions immediately before transmitting a proposal. Solicitation contact: Shannon Robinson, shannon.robinson@state.co.us.
Insurance and Procurement Requirements
The current package lists required insurance including Workers’ Compensation; General Liability of $1,000,000; Automobile Liability of $1,000,000; Protected Information Liability of $1,000,000; Professional Liability; Crime Insurance; and Cyber/Network Security and Privacy Liability of $1,000,000. Past performance is scored.
Atlas Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 90/100. N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. QC Healthcare/Dr. Miltie direct-vendor fit: 0/100 absent independently verified Colorado PRTF licensure, Medicaid enrollment, accredited facility operations, and the staffing/capacity required by this RFP.
This is a high-relevance Colorado pediatric behavioral-health procurement, but it is a residential treatment capacity and clinical-services contract rather than a telehealth, remote physical examination, RPM, or medical-device purchase. Atlas is therefore not forcing an N9+ pathway. A legitimate bidder must itself satisfy the PRTF and contracting requirements or participate only through a structure expressly permitted by the live solicitation.
Next Action
Qualified Colorado PRTF operators should use the current amended ColoradoVSS record RFP-IHFA-2027000022-2, review Addendum 1 and any later Q&A/addenda, confirm current CDHS/BHA licensing, Medicaid enrollment, accreditation, staffing, school compliance and insurance requirements, complete the narrative, budget, sample invoice and Signature Page, and submit strictly according to the amended live instructions before October 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM MDT.
Official source: ColoradoVSS / AdvantageVSS. Solicitation identifier: RFP-IHFA-2027000022.