Project Information

Bid Title

Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail RFP

Issuing Agency

Chisago County

Location

Minnesota

Published Date

May 1, 2026

Closing Date

May 22, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Inquiries

Join to Access Full Details

Bid Documents

Join to Access Full Details

Project Description

Bid Title:	Medical Services for the Chisago County Jail RFP
Category:	Advertisement for Bids
Status:	Open
Bid Recipient:	Christina Vollrath, Clerk to the Chisago County Board of Commissioners

Description: 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. Publication Date/Time: 5/1/2026 7:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 5/22/2026 2:00 PM Contact Person: For purposes of this RFP, the County's authorized representative is Christina Vollrath. Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Qualifications: The following evaluation criteria (not necessarily listed in priority order), will be used in making a selection for 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. Special Requirements: 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. 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 •        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. 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. Miscellaneous: 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 [email protected] . 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. 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. Related Documents: 2026 Inmate Medical Services RFP (PDF)

Attachment Preview

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

38.11

2024

47.41

2025

46.36

2026 YTD*

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.

- Page 1 -

II. OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURAL TIMELINE

Event

RFP Issued

Deadline for Submitting a Question

Proposal Due Date

Completion of Proposal Evaluations

Completion of Contract Negotiations

Medical Services Begin

Date

May 1, 2026

May 8, 2026

May 22, 2026

June 12, 2026

June 26, 2026

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.

- Page 2 -

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

- Page 3 -

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 423450Medical, Dental, and Hospital Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
• NAICS 621111Offices of Physicians (except Mental Health Specialists)

* Disclaimer: Government BidHub provides information on bids, RFPs (Requests for Proposals), and RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) solely for convenience and informational purposes. This site is not an official public notice board. For official details, responses, or inquiries, please contact the relevant government agency directly.