Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) RFP

The Support Team Assisted Response (STAR) was created to provide a police alternative, trauma-informed, and collaborative response to crises within emergency services related to mental health, substance use, poverty, and homelessness with a harm-reduction focus to respond to individuals self-defined crises. STAR provides quality care to the community of Denver by utilizing the most appropriate and least restrictive level of care and intervention through on scene behavioral health assessments, crisis intervention and management, emotional support and de-escalation, courtesy transportation, and connection to appropriate resources and wraparound services. STAR supports individuals in crisis and improves outcomes by diverting individuals away from the criminal justice system and emergency departments when possible and appropriate.

The City and County of Denver (CCD) is requesting proposals from entities with a local presence and knowledge of Denver geography and resources to provide the STAR EMT/Paramedic services. For STAR to be successful this program needs vendors that are committed to improving health outcomes for individuals in crisis. This will be accomplished by van response teams reducing unnecessary police interaction, reducing unnecessary use of emergency medical services and ED visits, and providing in the moment crisis support and connection to appropriate services. The STAR van responses include a team that pairs a behavioral health clinician with a paramedic/EMT. This RFP is for the EMT/Paramedic portion of the STAR van response, which also includes maintaining and managing the STAR vans.

The behavioral health clinical services will be provided by the City and County of Denver’s Department of Public Health & Environment. (DDPHE). The STAR program also provides follow up and wraparound services to individuals that have had interactions with the STAR van response, known as the STAR Community Partner Network.

Read through the STAR Request for Proposal materials to understand the program requirements, determine if your organization is eligible to apply, and learn more about the selection and application process.

Apply via Bidnet

Tentative Schedule (all dates are subject to change):

• RFP Release Date: February 19, 2026
• Questions Due in Writing: February 27, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. (MST)
• Q & A Posted Online: March 3, 2026
• Proposals Due: March 20, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. (MST)
• Award Notification (Estimated): Early April 2026