Oneida County Seeks Opioid Response Proposals

The Oneida County Department of Mental Health is seeking opioid response proposals and will award $1 million for prevention, treatment and recovery projects.

“Oneida County is on the forefront of battling the opioid crisis,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “We continue to be a nationwide model by taking a holistic approach that attacks the issue from all points, including prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement. This request for proposals will strengthen our position and provide more support to those stricken with addiction and their loved ones.”

Applicants can submit proposals for innovation and improvement projects that address the following areas: 

• Treatment
  • Treating opioid use disorder
  • Supporting people in treatment and recovery
  • Connecting to care
  • Addressing the needs of criminal justice-involved persons
  • Addressing the needs of pregnant or parenting women and their families
• Prevention
  • Preventing over-prescribing and ensuring appropriate prescribing/dispending of opioids
  • Preventing misuse of opioids
  • Preventing overdose deaths and other harms
• Other Strategies
  • First responder collaboration
  • Leadership, planning and collaboration
  • Training
  • Research
  • Post-mortem

“We would like to thank NYS OASAS for this opportunity to provide further addiction services within our community,” said Oneida County Commissioner of Mental Health Ashlee Thompson. “We recognize the incredible efforts of people, providers and programs working tirelessly to reduce stigma and overdose rates within our county. The Department of Mental Health is eager to receive the innovative idea that our community creates in response to this RFP.” 

Oneida County’s opioid response was established to fund local projects that improve the system of behavioral health service integration to best treat co-occurring disorders, service equity and meaningful evaluation that demonstrates reduced suffering and positive impacts on the social determinants of health that have been affected by the opioid crisis. Its priority areas include harm reduction, treatment, investment across the service continuum, priority populations, housing, recovery, prevention, transportation, public awareness and research.

A total of $1,000,000 in awards will be distributed through this Request for Proposals. There is no cap on the amount of funds that eligible organizations can request, nor a set limit on the number of proposals eligible organizations can submit for consideration.

There will be a maximum limit of two successful awards per eligible organization and a preferred maximum proposed amount of $300,000 per proposal. All proposals will be reviewed and scored by a Technical Review Committee in accordance with the process laid out in the

Scoring & Evaluation Section. Applicants are encouraged to submit collaborative/joint proposals, as well as proposals for lesser amounts ($5,000, $20,000, $100,000, etc.).

RFP documents are available in the public notice section of www.ocgov.net or by contacting Mental Health Commissioner Ashlee Thompson at 315-768-3660 or mentalhealth@ocgov.net.

Proposals must be submitted by 4 p.m. on November 30, 2023.  A hard copy should be mailed to the Oneida County Department of Mental Health, 800 Park Avenue, 9^th Floor, Utica, NY 13501, attention: Ashlee Thompson. An electronic copy should be submitted to mentalhealth@ocgov.net.