Inmate-Resident Healthcare Services - Question and Answers III

Agency:	Shelby County
State:	Tennessee
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541519 - Other Computer Related Services
Posted Date:	May 6, 2026
Due Date:	May 15, 2026
Solicitation No:	RFP 26-008-50
Original Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
Bid Documents:	Please Login to View Page

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Shelby County

Tennessee

Lee Harris, Mayor

Questions and Answers III

Issued: May 6, 2026

RFP #26-008-50

Inmate/Resident Healthcare Services

(Shelby County Department of Corrections)

TO ALL PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS:

The following questions were submitted by potential vendors. Our answer is listed in red

below:

Is there a specific bid bond form to be used? No.

a. Will the successful bidder need to post a Performance & Payment bond before the

start of the contract? Please refer to the RFP

b. If so, I’m assuming the bond amount would need to be equal to 100% of the

contract amount? Please refer to the RFP

II.

1. What Jail Management System (JMS) is in use at each facility location? Offender

Management System (OMS) & Juvenile C System

2. Do any of the detention facilities house inmates under the custody of the U.S.

Marshals Service (USMS)? Yes, If so, what is the average daily population of USMS

inmates, and in which facility are they housed? Division of Corrections Avg 300 -

350

3. Which facility locations participate in housing ICE detainees under the 48-hour

hold program? – No

4. Will the County accept a $5 million umbrella insurance coverage that is

consistent with the contract with the current provider in lieu of the excessive limits

requested in the RFP? Please be advised that the coverage limits outlined in the RFP

represent the required standards for this engagement. Any deviation from these

requirements must undergo formal review and receive approval from the Deputy

Director prior to acceptance.

5. Please provide a list of durable equipment for each facility, along with the age

and condition of each piece of equipment. Each site has Wheelchairs (time in service

unknown), Offloading Mattress (1) Division of Corrections. CPAPs

Also, please provide a list of equipment that will need to be replaced by the next

provider before the initiation of the contract, and a list of anticipated equipment that

may need to be replaced in the next 24 months. -

6. The RFP indicates that a new facility to handle mental health services is

being contemplated. What information does the County expect to see in a

proposal regarding the proposed facility? County will expect to see the vendors ability to staff,

and provide mental health treatment, discharge planning and clinical support during admission

to the facility. Should costs associated with that facility be considered as part of the proposal?

This will be a later contract amendment following award If so,

what are the anticipated staffing and equipment needs for that facility? TBD

7. Did the current provider provide a bid bond on previous RFP submissions to

Shelby County? Please provide a copy of any active bid

bond submitted by the current provider. You may obtain this information via Public

Records Request.

8. When does a bid bond submitted in response to this project expire, and when is

the anticipated window of return to the issuing vendor? If you are issued a non-award

letter, you can cancel your bid bond at that time.

III. Under “Department Reqs, Item 26: Department Specific Requirements: Quality Assurance:

CONTRACTOR agrees to provide the following services as part of the health services

program.” – please advise what this is referring to, as there are no following services specified. –

Contractor agrees to provide a Quality Assurance program. Ensuring there are processes in place

that meet the required standards and regulations. Please see page 21, (7). Contractors will also

produce and maintain policies and procedures consistent with Clinical Care guidelines, and

comply with accrediting, federal, state, and local standards & regulations.

IV. 2. Section X: CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS: B. INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

REQUIREMENTS:

a. Does the County mandate that the provider maintain a Civil Rights Endorsement as

part of their insurance coverage? This specific coverage is necessary to protect the

County from 42 U.S.C. § 1983 medical claims. Such claims represent the most

common lawsuit filed against counties by inmates in relation to medical issues, rather

than medical malpractice. This statute is the primary legal avenue for prisoners to

enforce their constitutional rights, including the Eighth Amendment right to adequate

medical care. If the vendor does not provide this coverage, the County will be liable

for any judgments issued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. i. If the Civil Rights Endorsement is

indeed ,required, will the County seek verification of this endorsement from the

insurance provider? Please be advised that the coverage limits outlined in the RFP

represent the required standards for this engagement. Any deviation from these

requirements must undergo formal review and receive approval from the Deputy

Director prior to acceptance.

b. Section IX. PURPOSE/SCOPE OF WORK: 3. Staffing

a. Can you please provide current staff’s salary range and seniority with the current

vendor? Vendor Proprietary Information

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b. Who is/are your current physician(s)? Information available upon successful bid.

Would you like the vendor to work with this/these physicians if possible? Refer RFP

Section 3 (k). ii. How many days is the current physician in each facility?

iii. How long does the physician stay at each facility? Varies based on operational

needs of each facility. iv. Is an Advanced Practice Provider (NP/PA) acceptable with

oversight by a licensed physician? Yes, with direct in facility oversight based on the

staffing matrix in the RFP.

c. What are the current salaries for the nurses? Vendor Proprietary Information Is

there a shift differential? Vendor Proprietary Information

d. Are any members of the jail’s current health service workforce unionized? No. If

yes, please provide the following: i. A copy of each union contract ii. Complete

contact information for a designated contact person at each union iii. The number of

union grievances that resulted in arbitration cases over the last 12 months

V. 4. Section IX: PURPOSE / SCOPE OF WORK: 27. Dental a. How long is the dentist onsite?

Varies based on facility needs.

b. How many days per week is the dentist on-site? Varies based on facility needs. Please refer to

the RFP staffing matrix for each FTE.

5. Section IX: PURPOSE / SCOPE OF WORK: 25. Inmate Charges

a. How much is the current co-pay? $0

6. Mental Health Specific Requirements (page 26)

a. Are inmates/detainees charged a fee for mental health services? _____ Yes X___ No

b. Indicate who provides mental health services. (Check all that apply) i. County agency

(Human or Social Services, etc.) ii. Contracted provider iii. Jail/sheriff’s department hired staff.

iv. Other (please explain). Contracted provider – Please refer to RFP for MH FTE’s

c. Is your mental health program accredited by any professional organization? (NCCHC, ACA).

NCCHC, ACA, TCI – accredits the facility, there is no accrediting of specific programs within

the facility

d. Is crisis intervention available 24 hours per day/7 days per week? Yes

e. Indicate the titles of the provider(s) of mental health services in your jail. Please check all that

apply and indicate the average number of hours per week for each. Psychiatrist – Psychologist –

Registered Nurse (RN) – Nurse Practitioner – Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – Jail Chaplain –

Other (please explain) – Please refer to the RFP, for specific mental health provider needs.

Mental Health Professionals are defined by NCCHC.

f. Indicate the level of screening for inmates/detainees at your jail. - At Intake, Health

Assessments, & per referral.

i. Basic intake health screening, generally done at booking for medical and mental health issues

by correctional officer. No

ii. Separate screening tools specific to mental health/suicide prevention issues completed by

correctional officer. No

iii. Separate screening tools specific to mental health/suicide prevention issues completed by RN

or mental health professional. - Yes iv. Other (please explain)

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g. Is there a secondary review of screening reports for accuracy, completeness, legibility, and the

referral process? (e.g., by first line supervisor, jail nurse, etc.) Yes, If yes, by whom? A sample

of this information is audited by the vendors Continuous Quality Improvement Nurse & Shelby

County Governments Auditors.

h. Is staff required to use a prescribed form when making mental health referrals? Vendor

specific forms

i. Are arresting/transporting officers and probation agents, etc. required to complete a pre-

incarceration form identifying mental health risk issues? There is a medical clearance process

that occurs prior to intake. The initial mental health assessment is completed by the intake nurse.

VI. GENERAL QUESTIONS

a. Please advise what the average length of stay is for inmates of the Shelby County Division of

Corrections. 1 – 6 years

b. Please advise if the submitted bids should include staffing for the Mental Health Facility

mentioned on page 16 of the Request for Proposal. This will be a later contract amendment

following award. However, in RFP response, the County will expect to see the vendors ability to

staff, and provide mental health treatment, discharge planning and clinical support during

admission to the facility? If so, please provide an estimated ADP for this facility. Please refer to

the RFP pg 16 (60 bed facility).

c. How many officers currently work at each facility? Information not required for RFP response. Is

the health services provider responsible for the cost of all drug screenings for County employees at

the facilities? The Health Services Vendor is responsible for drug screening of all its employees.

Please see RFP – pg 13. T.C.A. § 50-9-113

d. Will the County or the Medical Service Provider be responsible for paying the bills of the current

pharmacy company (Contract Pharmacy Services) under the new contract? Medical Service

Provider, see RFP pg 4. (exception Shelby County will provide medications for TB, HIV/AIDS,

& Hemophilia).

e. Please provide the following information about medication administration.

f. Who administers medications, e.g., RNs, LPNs, medical assistants? RNs & LPNs

g. How many medication passes per day do you currently have and at what times? 2 major med

passes & 8 am & 8 pm

h. Are medications passed out in the housing unit and by whom? Yes, by nurses

i. Are any medications sent with inmates/detainees upon discharge? Yes, 30 day supply or

prescription call in for scheduled releases.

j. Are the medication carts owned by the county? Yes

k. Are any medications allowed to be brought in from home? Yes, with prior approval and for a

limited timeframe

l. Are any medications allowed to be “kept on person” within the facilities? Yes If so, which are

allowed? Varies, (ex. Inhalers, creams, ointments)

m. Are there over-the-counter medications on commissary? No

n. If so, are the inmates/detainees allowed to keep commissary medications on person? N/A

o. Please provide a listing of current medical commissary items. N/A

p. Under the current contract, who is financially responsible for the cost of HIV medications and

other AIDS-related drugs? No Will this remain the same under the new contract? Yes

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q. What time(s) and location(s) are sick call currently conducted – All sites have sick call; locations

of sick call vary per site.

r. Is a security officer currently present for every sick call? Yes

s. What on-site specialty clinics are conducted? Ophthalmology Clinic at Division of Corrections.

t. Do you currently do TB screening by asking questions and/or TB skin test? Yes, Both. If you do

TB screening, when do you complete the screening or skin tests? Varies by facility. At Jail sites

within 14 days of intake. At Prison site TB screening and skin test is placed at intake How many

TB tests did you perform in the last year? Information not required to complete RFP

u. Are there any special business license fees or taxes that are to be paid to the city or county? Please

refer to Minimum Requirement number 1.

v. Do you currently have a financial limit (POOL) with the current contract? a. If so, what does it

cover and how much is it? This information will not be divulged.

w. Have you gone over the financial limit (POOL)? This information will not be divulged. If so, how

many months into the contract was it before you went over the limit? If so, how much over the

financial limit (POOL) did you go over every year?

x. Can you please provide a copy of the current medical services contract? This information can be

obtained via public records request.

y. Would you like the new contractor to re-price all medical claims? Not Applicable

z. What is your current process for re-pricing medical claims? Not Applicable

aa. Do you have a state statute that you reprice to? Not Applicable

bb. What is the 3-year average spending on the following:

Ambulance – Vendor is responsible for Emergency Ambulance Transports Only (vendor specific

spend information)

In/Outpatient – County Responsible

pharmacy - Vendor is responsible (vendor specific spend information)

medical supplies - Vendor is responsible (vendor specific spend information)

Durable medical supplies – Shared costs based on contract specifics

mobile x-ray – County Responsible

laboratory - County Responsible

cc. Would the county prefer the vendor to review/verify the inmate/detainee medical bills, apply any

discounts and pay the invoice for the county (act as a third-party administrator)? No

dd. Is there a dedicated fax line to medical? Yes a. If not, is a fax line available?

ee. Do you have an existing EMR system? Yes If yes, who is the current provider? NextGen

ff. Is there internet connection already in the medical unit? Yes

gg. Is this provided by the county or the current contractor? The County. If the current contractor is

providing, do you know the cost?

hh. What kind of network gear is needed or currently in place for internet at each facility if contractor

must supply? Not applicable, County provided.

ii. How many simultaneous med passes occur? None (8am & 8pm)

jj. Who is your JMS provider? Offender Management System (OMS), & Juvenile Court System

(JCS)

kk. How many desktop computers do the medical staff currently use? The existing vendor will only

retain – Vendor specific PC’s. a. How many are county owned vs. contractor owned? 90 – 95%

are county owned and will remain in place

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This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

Inmate-Resident Healthcare Services - Question and Answers III

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