Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail RFP

REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS
MEDICAL SERVICES
FOR THE
CHISAGO COUNTY JAIL
Issuance Date:
May 1, 2026
Proposals are due by May 22, 2026
at 2:00 p.m. (C.D.T.)

INDEX
INDEX ................................................................................................. ii
I. INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW .......................................................... 1
II. OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURAL TIMELINE ................................................ 2
III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSAL..................................... 2
IV. SCOPE OF SERVICES ................................................................. 2
V. QUESTIONS ..................................................................... 3
VI. REVISIONS TO RFP ................................................................... 3
VII. DISCLAIMERS ..................................................................... 3
VIII. AMBIGUITY, CONFLICT, OR OTHER ERRORS IN RFP ........................... 3
IX. PROPOSAL AND PRESENTATION COSTS ......................................... 3
X. REJECTION/ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSALS ........................................ 4
XI. CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT .............................................................. 4
XII. EVALUATION CRITERIA .............................................................. 4
XIII. SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................... 5
XIV. PROPOSAL CONTENT ................................................................. 14
EXHIBIT A ......................................................................................................................... 18
EXHIBIT B ......................................................................................................................... 20
EXHIBIT C ......................................................................................................................... 24
EXHIBIT D ......................................................................................................................... 25
EXHIBIT E ......................................................................................................................... 26

I. INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW
The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit proposals from responsible vendors to
provide comprehensive correctional healthcare services for the incarcerated population held
within the Chisago County Jail. It is anticipated that any contracts resulting from this RFP would
commence no later than September 1, 2026, and continue through December 31, 2029, with an
option to extend the contract for up to three (3) additional one (1) year terms.
Correctional healthcare services include, but are not limited to, the provision of medical, mental
health, and related clinical services; staffing; administration; coordination of care; and all necessary
supplies and equipment required to deliver healthcare services within a secure correctional
environment. Services shall be provided in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws,
including Minnesota Department of Corrections standards, and in coordination with Chisago
County Jail operations.
The Chisago County Jail is located in Center City, Minnesota. The facility has a rated capacity of
one hundred twenty (120) inmates and is currently approved by the Minnesota Department of
Corrections to house a maximum population of eighty (80) inmates, based on the approved staffing
plan.
Over the past three (3) years, the Jail's Average Daily Population (ADP) has demonstrated
variability, generally ranging between approximately 35 and 65 inmates, with recent data
reflecting a modest upward trend. This fluctuation may be further influenced by boarding
agreements or contractual arrangements with other jurisdictions, which can result in temporary
increases or shifts in population and service demand. As such, the County requires a healthcare
delivery model that is scalable and responsive to changing population levels and clinical needs.
Average Daily Population:
2023 2024 2025 2026 YTD*
38.11 47.41 46.36 39.28
The inmate population presents a range of healthcare needs typical of a county jail environment,
including, but not limited to:
* Assessment of newly admitted inmates
* Management of acute and chronic medical conditions
* Medication administration and verification
* Detoxification monitoring and related care
* Mental health services and crisis intervention
* Coordination of off-site medical care when necessary
The County seeks a Contractor capable of providing consistent, timely, and clinically appropriate
care within this environment, while maintaining effective communication and coordination with
custody staff. The Contractor shall operate under a provider-directed model of care, ensuring that
clinical decisions are made by appropriately licensed medical professionals on a case-by-case
basis, supported by timely access to on-call providers.
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II. OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURAL TIMELINE
Event Date
RFP Issued May 1, 2026
Deadline for Submitting a Question May 8, 2026
Proposal Due Date May 22, 2026
Completion of Proposal Evaluations June 12, 2026
Completion of Contract Negotiations June 26, 2026
Medical Services Begin August 1, 2026
III. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSAL
Proposals must be received by May 22, 2026, at 2:00pm (Central Time). Proposers shall submit one (1)
original proposal (clearly marked "Original") and two (2) complete copies, unless otherwise specified by the
County. Late proposals will not be considered and will be returned to the Proposer, unless the County determines
that acceptance of a late proposal is in its best interest.
Proposals must be sealed and clearly marked: "Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail". Proposals shall
be addressed to:
Chisago County Board of Commissioners
Attn: Christina Vollrath, Clerk to the County Board of Commissioners
Chisago County Government Center
313 North Main Street, Room 174
Center City, Minnesota 55012
Proposals will be opened and handled in accordance with Minn. Stat. 13.591, and data contained within
proposals will be classified and disclosed in accordance with applicable Minnesota law.
Any data a Proposer considers to be trade secret or non-public must meet the definition set forth in Minn. Stat.
13.37. Proposers must clearly identify such data at the time of submission and provide a written justification
for its classification. Failure to do so will result in all submitted materials being considered public data.
Proposals must be complete, accurate, and sufficiently detailed to allow for a thorough evaluation. Supplemental
materials such as brochures or marketing information may be included but will not be relied upon by the County
to determine responsiveness unless the required information is explicitly included within the proposal itself.
IV. FACILITY TOUR
Upon request by a Proposer and in coordination with the Jail Administrator or his/her designee, a tour of
the Chisago County Jail medical areas and relevant facility spaces will be made available. Areas may
include, but are not limited to, medical exam rooms, medication storage areas, booking/intake areas,
housing units, and other spaces necessary to understand the delivery of healthcare services within the
facility.
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Chisago County strongly encourages all Proposers to tour the facility prior to submitting a proposal to
ensure a thorough understanding of the operational environment, security considerations, available space,
and logistical requirements associated with providing correctional healthcare services.
V. QUESTIONS
Questions are permitted and written answers will be provided. All official answers or positions of Chisago
County will be stated in writing.
Questions concerning this RFP should be submitted in writing by May 8, 2026, to Christina Vollrath, Clerk to
the County Board of Commissioners. Please include the page number and section number for each question.
Questions may be submitted by letter or e-mail to christina.vollrath@chisagocountymn.gov . Phone calls will
not be accepted for question submission.
VI. REVISIONS TO RFP
Revisions or interpretations made by Chisago County will be by addendum issued prior to the date set for
the proposal deadline. Any explanation desired by Proposer must be requested from the County's authorized
representative in writing, and if an explanation is necessary, a reply will be made in the form of an addendum.
Information obtained from unauthorized representative, agent, or employee of Chisago County or any
other person will not affect the risks or obligations assumed by the Proposer or relieve the Proposer from
fulfilling any of the conditions of the resulting contract.
For purposes of this RFP, the County's authorized representative is Christina Vollrath.
VII. DISCLAIMERS
Chisago County reserves the right to withdraw this RFP at any time and for any reason, and to issue such
clarifications, modifications, and/or amendments as it may deem appropriate.
Chisago County reserves the right to waive minor irregularities in proposals, provided that such action is in the
best interest of Chisago County. Any such waiver will not modify any remaining RFP requirements or excuse
the Proposer from full compliance with the RFP specifications and other contract requirements if the Proposer
is awarded the contract.
VIII. AMBIGUITY, CONFLICT, OR OTHER ERRORS IN RFP
If a Proposer discovers any ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission or other error in this RFP, the Proposer
will immediately notify Chisago County of such error in writing and request modification or clarification
of the document. Modifications will be made by issuing a revision and will be given by written notice to all
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parties who have received this RFP from Chisago County. The Proposer is responsible for clarifying any
ambiguity, conflict, discrepancy, omission or other error in this RFP prior to submitting their proposal or it
will be deemed waived.
IX. PROPOSAL AND PRESENTATION COSTS
Chisago County will not be liable in any way for any costs incurred by Proposers in the preparation of their
proposal in response to this RFP or for the presentation of their proposal and/or participation in any discussions
or negotiations.
X. REJECTION/ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSALS/AWARD OF CONTRACT
Chisago County reserves the right to accept or reject in part or in whole any or all proposals submitted. Chisago
County will reject the proposal of any Proposer who is determined to be non-responsive.
All proposals properly submitted will be accepted by Chisago County. However, the County reserves the
right to request clarifications or corrections to proposals. The County's request for clarification or correction
will be in writing.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, the County may award the contract to the Proposer
whose proposal is, in the sole determination of the County Board, most advantageous to the County regardless
of proposed contract sum or irregularity or defect in any proposal.
XI. CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT
Chisago County reserves the right to negotiate further with one or more Proposer. The content of the RFP
and the successful Proposer's proposal will become an integral part of the contract, but may be modified by
the provisions of the contract. By submission of proposals pursuant to this RFP, Proposers acknowledge that
they are amenable to the inclusion in a contract any information provided either in response to this RFP or
subsequently during the selection process.
The successful Proposer agrees to obtain and maintain during the term of the contract resulting from this RFP
the insurance coverage as required in Exhibit A, which is attached hereto. Proof of such insurance will be
shown in successful Proposer's certificate of insurance.
The contracts resulting from this RFP will be subject to the terms and conditions as provided in the sample
Agreement form which is attached hereto as Exhibit B. In your proposal, you must acknowledge your
agreement with these terms and conditions.
XII. EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following evaluation criteria (not necessarily listed in priority order), will be used in making a selection for
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Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail:
1. The experience and qualifications of the company and the personnel that will be assigned to the Jail,
including experience in correctional healthcare settings.
2. Proposer's general reputation and experience in providing medical and mental health services in correctional
or similar institutional environments, including references from other facilities.
3. Cost to the County, including overall pricing structure, cost containment strategies, and clarity and
transparency of proposed costs.
4. The County's evaluation of the Proposer's staffing model and ability to deliver services, including adequacy
of proposed staffing levels, on-call coverage, and scalability to meet changing population and service
demands.
5. Proposer's clinical approach and service delivery model, including methods for providing
timely access to care (including provider response), coordination with custody staff,
medication administration practices, and approach to managing routine and emergent
healthcare needs.
6. Proposer's adherence to the specifications and proposal requirements, including quality assurance
processes, reporting capabilities, contingency planning, and demonstrated ability to meet the operational
and security requirements of a correctional facility.
XIII. SPECIFICATIONS
The Proposer shall be responsible to provide all labor, management, clinical services, supervision, supplies,
and administrative functions necessary to deliver comprehensive correctional healthcare services to inmates
housed at the Chisago County Jail. The Proposer shall agree to:
GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
General Operations
1. Maintain an open and collaborative relationship with the County, Jail Administrator, and
custody staff, ensuring clear communication and coordination of care.
2. Operate the healthcare program in a cost-effective manner, with full transparency and reporting
to County officials as requested or required.
3. Provide healthcare services seven (7) days per week, including 24/7 on-call provider coverage.
On-site staffing shall be scheduled daily. Variations in staffing schedules for weekends and
holidays may be permitted, provided that access to care, medication administration, and timely
clinical decision-making are maintained at all times to the satisfaction of the County.
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4. Ensure services are scalable and responsive to fluctuations in inmate population, including
increases resulting from boarding agreements or other operational changes.
5. Operate the healthcare program in a humane and professional manner, consistent with accepted
correctional healthcare standards and in compliance with Minnesota Department of Corrections
requirements and all applicable laws and regulations.
6. Comply with all applicable inspections, audits, and regulatory requirements, including
Department of Corrections reviews, and maintain full compliance with required standards.
Staffing and Clinical Coverage
7. Provide adequate and qualified personnel to deliver services, including but not limited to:
* On-site nursing coverage consistent with the requirements of this RFP
* 24/7 on-call licensed prescriber coverage
* On-site prescriber visits at a minimum frequency as specified
* Mental health services as specified
8. Maintain sufficient staffing levels to ensure continuity of care during absences, turnover, or
increased service demand.
Provider Response and Access to Care
9. Provide timely access to clinical direction, including:
* Expected provider response time of approximately fifteen (15) minutes under normal
conditions
* Maximum response time not to exceed sixty (60) minutes
* An established escalation protocol including backup providers
10. Differentiate between urgent and routine requests, ensuring that urgent medical needs receive
immediate attention while allowing reasonable flexibility for non-urgent matters, provided
patient care is not compromised.
11. Ensure all clinical decisions are provider-directed, with licensed prescribers making medical
determinations on a case-by-case basis following referral from nursing or custody staff.
Medical Services Delivery
12. Review all intake screening forms completed by custody staff no less than daily, identify
inmates requiring medical follow-up, and ensure timely assessment and intervention as
clinically indicated.
13. Provide ongoing medical services, including:
* Sick call evaluation and treatment
* Management of chronic conditions
* Detoxification monitoring and care
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* Coordination of emergency and off-site medical services
14. The Proposer shall establish written clinical escalation guidelines identifying objective criteria
requiring immediate emergency referral, provider notification, or hospital transport, subject to
County review and approval.
15. Provide mental health services, including:
* A minimum of four (4) hours per week of on-site services
* Crisis intervention and evaluation as needed
* Scalable services based on identified need
* Telehealth services may supplement but shall not replace required on-site services
Medication Administration and Documentation
16. Provide medication administration services, including appropriate verification, documentation,
refusal tracking, and oversight consistent with accepted clinical standards.
17. Maintain a system for documenting medication administration, inmate receipt when practicable,
and refusals of medications or medical services.
18. Ensure timely medication verification and continuity of care, including coordination with
providers for approval of medications when required.
Off-Site Care Coordination
19. Coordinate off-site medical services, including hospital and specialty care, as necessary.
20. Provide itemized documentation of off-site services, including costs, to support County review
and potential cost recovery.
21. Assist with cost containment efforts, including repricing or review of medical claims where
applicable.
Security and Facility Integration
22. Perform all work within a custodial setting, recognizing the security requirements of the facility.
23. The Proposer's employees shall:
* Be aware of and report contraband, safety, and security concerns
* Comply with all facility policies and procedures
* Take direction from correctional staff during emergencies
24. Ensure all staff are appropriately screened and approved prior to working in the facility.
Background screening shall be completed by following the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal
Apprehension's vendor background screening process.
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Training and Compliance
25. Provide initial and ongoing training for Proposer employees on correctional healthcare
practices, safety, security procedures, and any Minnesota Department of Corrections training
requirements applicable to contracted correctional healthcare personnel, as determined by the
County.
26. Participate in and adhere to training standards required by the County and/or the Minnesota
Department of Corrections, including but not limited to: PREA, safety, and workplace conduct,
at no additional cost to the County.
Quality Assurance and Communication
27. Establish and maintain a quality assurance program, including monitoring of service delivery,
documentation, and clinical outcomes.
28. Provide procedures for addressing inmate and staff complaints related to medical services,
including timely response and resolution.
29. Provide regular reporting to the County regarding service delivery, staffing, and operational
performance as required.
DETAILED SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS
A. PERSONNEL
The Proposer shall submit a personnel list to the County Jail Administrator identifying all
employees who will provide on-site services at the facility, including names and other
identifying information as required by the County. Chisago County reserves the right to approve
or reject any Proposer personnel. Any personnel rejected shall not be permitted to work within
the facility. Updates to personnel assignments must be submitted and approved prior to entry
onto the County Jail premises. All personnel assigned by the Proposer shall remain employees
of the Proposer.
The Proposer shall provide qualified, licensed, and credentialed personnel appropriate to the
services required under this RFP, including but not limited to:
* Registered Nurses (RN) or higher-level clinical staff for on-site coverage
* Licensed prescribers (MD, DO, NP, or PA) for on-call and on-site services
* Qualified mental health professionals
The Proposer shall designate an on-site clinical lead or supervisor responsible for coordination
of healthcare services, communication with County staff, and overall clinical oversight within
the facility.
The Proposer is encouraged to consider existing personnel for continued employment where
appropriate and to offer competitive wages and benefits to promote staff retention and continuity
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