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988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Request for Proposals
The Minnesota Department of Health (“MDH” or “the Department”) is requesting proposals for Minnesota-based 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Centers (988 Lifeline Centers). The Minnesota 988 Lifeline Centers will serve to provide compassionate and confidential support for help seekers who contact the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline through calls, chats, and texts.
View the complete 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Grant RFP (PDF).
Funding and project dates
MDH is seeking proposals for the grant period of July 1, 2024-June 30, 2029. The Department will award up to $9,000,000 with an up to five awards with an estimated award maximum of $3,500,000
Funding will be allocated through a competitive process. If selected, you may only incur eligible expenditures when the grant agreement is fully executed, and the grant has reached its effective date.
Eligible applicants
Applicants eligible to apply in this competitive process include, but are not limited to, crisis call centers, regional call centers, nonprofit organizations, local public health and social service agencies, and other agencies demonstrating experience to serve those at risk of suicide through membership to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network.
Applicants are required to have an existing network agreement contract with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator at the time of applying for this grant. Applicants must also have the capabilities to implement technology upgrades that is interoperable with other services as recommended by the 988 Lifeline Administrator or the Department. Preference will be given to 988 Lifeline Centers that are based in Minnesota and are able to provide 24/7 call, chat, and/or text support for the state.
Questions and answers
All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to health.988lifeline@state.mn.us. In the subject line, include the phrase, “MN 988 RFP Question”.
All answers will be posted within two business days at 988 Suicide & Crisis RFP Questions and Answers.
Please submit questions no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST), on February 27, 2024.
To ensure the proper and fair evaluation of all applications, other communications regarding this RFP including verbal, telephone, written or internet initiated by or on behalf of any applicant to any employee of the Department, other than questions submitted to as outlined above, are prohibited. Any violation of this prohibition may result in the disqualification of the applicant.
RFP Information Meeting
MDH will host a virtual one-hour webinar that will be offered to assist applicants in preparing an application for the RFP. All prospective applicants are encouraged to attend.
January 31, 2024, 1 – 2 p.m. Central Standard Time
Click here to join RFP information meeting
Program details
Health equity priority
It is the policy of the State of Minnesota to ensure fairness, precision, equity, and consistency in competitive grant awards. This includes implementing diversity and inclusion in grant-making. The Policy on Rating Criteria for Competitive Grant Review establishes the expectation that grant programs intentionally identify how the grant serves diverse populations, especially populations experiencing inequities and/or disparities.
Eligible projects
The purpose of this project is to provide compassionate support and crisis intervention for help seekers who contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline across Minnesota and the 11 Tribal Nations that share its geography. Successful applicants will propose a plan to aid the Department in its efforts to:
- Operate and provide 988 Lifeline support 24/7/365 for Minnesota.
- Achieve and maintain a 90% answer rate of incoming 988 calls, texts, and chats.
- Provide and connect help seekers with local information and resources for additional community service support and offer follow-up services as needed.
- Participate in statewide initiatives to coordinate interactions between various related services such as mobile crisis response and Public Safety Answering Points.
- Participate in evaluation and quality improvement activities, including but limited to data collection, data reporting, critical incident reviews, complaints filed to the 988 Lifeline Administrator.
Mandatory Requirements
- Applicants must have and maintain an existing network agreement with the 988 Lifeline Administrator and must currently be part of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Network at the time of applying for this grant. Applicants must submit a copy of their network agreement to MDH.
- Applicants must be accredited or in the process of becoming accredited with a third-party governing organization (e.g., American Association of Suicidology Crisis Center Accreditation). Applicants must submit a copy, or pending copy, of their accreditation certificate to MDH and organizational policies and procedures related to 988 Lifeline Services.
- Applicants must have system capabilities to collect Key Performance Indicators as determined by MDH. Applicants must submit a copy of their call, text, and/or chat log form to MDH.
- Applicant organization must demonstrate staffing capacity to meet mandatory requirements and all deliverables, expectations, and tasks outlined in the RFP. Applicants must submit a copy of job descriptions for key staff personnel and an organization chart.
- Applicants must have system capabilities to implement technology upgrades that is interoperable with other services and can implement infrastructure and site reliability best practices, safeguard information and information systems as recommended by the 988 Lifeline Administrator and/or MDH.
- Applications must be received by the due date and specified in this RFP.
- Application must address all components specified in the Application Form.
Application deadline and materials
All applications must be received by MDH via email no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time, on March 15, 2024.
Late applications will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to allow sufficient time to address all potential delays caused by any reason whatsoever. MDH will not be responsible for delays caused by delivery, computer or technology problems.
Applications must be submitted by email to the MDH Suicide Prevention Unit, 988 Coordination Program: health.988lifeline@state.mn.us with the subject line “988 Lifeline RFP Application - <<Insert Organization Name>>”