Delaware Health
And Social Services
DIVISION OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES

			PROCUREMENT




          				DATE:  June 24, 2009 

  PSC#873	

						
		EARLY INTERVENTION SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY SERVICES


        FOR

      
       DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH  


	
                         Date Due: 	July 23, 2009
				11:15 AM


 ADDENDUM # 1		Please Note:
	
THE ATTACHED SHEETS HEREBY BECOME A PART OF 
THE ABOVE MENTIONED BID.


							___________________________
							SANDRA S. SKELLEY, CPPO
					PROCUREMENT ADMINISTRATOR
							(302)255-9291

							_____________________________		
							BARBARA AKENHEAD (302) 995-8617



Early Intervention Speech Language Pathology Services 
RFP – PSCO-873 (Questions and Answers) 
Pre-bid Meeting June 24, 2009



1.	Is this position(s) considered new or from an existing contract expiring? 
	Answer: This is a new position.

 2.  If under existing contract:
      a. What is the present rate you are paying for this therapy? 
                        b. Are you happy with the present provider?  (if not, why not?) 
	Answer: Not applicable as this is a new position.

3.	If this is not a renewal, why is it going out for bid at this time? 
	Answer: We received stimulus funds to enhance our program. We are hoping to 
	increase our capacity for both case management and speech/language pathology 
	services. The SLP would provide assessments and interim services as needed.

4.	Is there an existing budget for this service, and if so, what is it? 
	Answer: Stimulus funding will be used to finance these positions.

5.	Can you provide a determination of the quantity of hourly services expected for the 
contract year?  
	Answer: 37.5 hours/wk x 50 weeks for 1875 hours 

6.	In the last year how many hours were required for speech therapy? Or alternatively what 
is the anticipated hourly usage of this position(s) over the coming year? 
	Answer: Full time-37.5 hours per week.

7. 	Are these services to be provided on demand by part time or hourly staff, or is this 
expected to be a full time position(s)? 
	Answer: We would like this to be a full time position.

8. 	In the evaluation criteria it refers to the vender’s methodology “builds on existing work 
of the Division’s planning efforts”.  Is there more definition of these planning efforts 
available beyond those stated with the RFP? 
	Answer: We would like to expand our program, form an early intervention team 
	and increase capacity for case management and skilled speech services.

9. 	Are you looking for a staffing firm as opposed to a managing contract of SLP services? 
	Answer: Either would be considered

10. Is Early Intervention defined as 0-3, 3-5 or 0-5? 
	Answer: In Delaware, Part C is 0-3.

11. Is there a separate team that does the initial Multidisciplinary evaluation?
	Answer: Yes, contracted therapy staff (ECE, OT, PT, SLP) and in house advanced 
	practice nurses.

12. If so, who is the provider?
	Answer: Christiana Care provides the therapy team.

13. What is the rate currently being paid for the initial MDA?
	Answer: Depends on type of agency—SLPs usually $50-$57.00/hr.

14. What assessment tool is used for the initial evaluation?
	Answer: Bayley Scales of Infant Development III; Preschool Language Scale 4th 
	edition; Peabody Motor Scales 2nd edition.

15. What is the qualifying rate?
	Answer: 25 % cognitive, motor, social emotional, adaptive and 30 % 
	communication

16 . How many children are currently served by your program? 
	Answer: As of May 2009-1,413 children were being served.

17. How many new intakes per month do you receive? 
	Answer: May 2009—177 new referrals.

18. What percentage of children qualify for services? 
	Answer: approximately 60 %

19. Is there presently a waiting list for children who are not being served? 
	Answer: No, but there are capacity issues.

20. What is the current rate range for services (OT, PT, SLP, ECE)? 
	Answer: It is the Medicaid fee for service rate.

21. Are there mandated training requirements that need to be made by therapists each year? 
	Answer: It depends on state licensure.

22. If so what are they? 
	Answer: See above response

23. What are the funding sources for services? 
	Answer: The program is funded by state and federal funds. Services are paid by 
	private insurers, Medicaid and Part C as a last resort.

24. What is your present referral process? 
	Answer: Telephone and electronic referrals from parent/physician /hospital.

25. Are there mandatory provider meetings? 
	Answer: Not mandatory but strongly recommended as they usually deal with 
	current Part C issues/training.

26. How often are these meetings held? 
	Answer: Once or twice yearly.

27. What are current rates for services? 
	Answer: SLP $50.00/$57.00/hr.

28. Who currently provides services? 
	Answer: In the SLP team model as used by CDW South—Columbus provides the 
	service.

29. Would this contract be for full time services? Elaborate on interim need. 
	Answer: Yes full time service.  Services would be initiated until community capacity 
	is available to avoid service gaps. 

30. The proposal submission instructions do not specify that the budget or pricing is to be 
separate. Is this correct? 
	Answer: I believe the proposal does request that this be the manner of budget 
	presentation.

31. On page 15 for the budget it specifies that the proposal must indicate the price for each 
activity as well as the estimate of the amount of time. Is this expected? 
	Answer: Yes