Proposals sought to assist hospital coalition with project implementation

SPRINGFIELD - The Coalition of Western Massachusetts Hospitals has issued a request for proposals to select an organization that would assist the Coalition in its implementation of a regional strategy to address mental health and substance abuse disorders. Specifically, the selected organization will serve as the fiscal agent, provide administrative staff support, and facilitate project development and implementation. The Coalition will serve as the decision-making body.

Formed in 2012 to share resources and work in partnership to identify priority community health needs through regional community health needs assessments, the Coalition is a partnership between eight hospitals: Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Holyoke Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center (a member of Sisters of Providence Health System), Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, and Health New England, a local health insurer whose service areas covers the four counties of western Massachusetts. Following feedback from key community stakeholders during the community health needs assessment process, the Coalition has taken its unique collaboration to the next level by identifying a shared health priority to address in partnership across the region.

For a copy of the request for proposal, interested parties may contact Annamarie Golden at annamarie.golden@baystatehealth.org. The Coalition is accepting proposals and qualification statements by interested vendors until 3pm on Friday, October 31, 2014. All proposals should be electronically submitted to Ms. Golden, who is receiving on behalf of the Coalition.