Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services

The Grants and Procurement Unit is responsible for identifying and pursuing grants and other funding opportunities from philanthropic foundations and government sources. Decisions to pursue specific grant and funding opportunities are based on a series of criteria, including:

• Alignment and consistency with the grant-maker’s requirements and the goals of DBHIDS.
• Targeting of a specific population group or treatment modality.
• Consistency with a recovery- and resilience-based system of care.

In order to have a broader impact on enhancing the behavioral health system in Philadelphia, the Grants and Procurement Unit has developed a strategy to improve its grants process and funding objectives. These include:

• Identification of priority program areas that will be targeted for grants in a specific time frame (e.g., during a calendar year).
• Determination of the internal model to be used in the pursuit of grants.
• Collaboration with provider agencies and other components of government to enhance funding prospects.
  
  

RFP Supervision

In addition to grants responsibilities, the unit also has oversight of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. Once the document has been developed, reviewed, and approved internally, the Grants and Procurement Unit manages the process for issuing the RFP. The primary activities include:

• Coordination of bidders’ conferences.
• Responding to questions related to the RFP.
• Certifying receipt of RFP submissions.
• Assuring that all aspects of the proposal review process are in place.
  
  

Contract/RFP Description:

Procurement refers to the process of acquiring goods or services. Within DBHIDS, the most common method is the Request for Proposal, which serves as the City’s primary tool for awarding contracts. The RFP process is a required step in the contracting cycle and occurs prior to the establishment of a formal contract between City departments and a vendor.

The RFP process helps to ensure that City contracting practices are fair to prospective vendors. City-issued RFP documents outline necessary information associated with prospective contracting opportunities so interested vendors can respond with their proposals in response to the RFP.

Additionally, potential vendors can visit the City Contracts Hub to search for contract opportunities on multiple procurement websites at once. To submit a bid, you’ll need to log into PHLContracts. Instructions for submitting a bid can be found in the bid solicitation.

Some RFPs and RFIs are posted on the additional contract opportunities page.
Businesses or individuals that are awarded a City contract must adhere to Labor Standards and Diversity and Inclusion goals.

Please note that the DBHIDS Grants and Procurement Unit does not accept grant proposals submitted by external entities.

Our team prepares grant applications on behalf of designated DBHIDS divisions to secure funding for approved programs.

For any questions, please contact us at DBHIDS.Grants.Procurements@phila.gov.