In a request for proposals (RFP) released Tuesday on the California State Contracts Register, the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) is seeking business continuity/disaster recovery services around a mobile command center and support. DSH seeks proposals from a contractor, it said, “to provide mobile command centers and services” so that it has “business continuity and disaster recovery services available during an emergency.” Among the takeaways:
- DSH runs the country’s largest inpatient forensic behavioral health hospital system and its property portfolio includes upwards of 6.1 million gross square feet of building space across more than 474 buildings on roughly 2,600 acres of land. It has more than 11,000 staffers and serves more than 12,000 patients a year at a 24/7/365 hospital system, all of whom come to DSH via criminal courts and have committed crimes linked to their mental illness. The high-risk patient population and environment necessitate effective emergency event planning, preparation and response. The RFP seeks to obtain business continuity and disaster recovery services that will provide DSH with an independent, mobile emergency intermediate operational facility. The mobile facility should support emergency coordination and direction needs for DSH Emergency Operation Centers at any of its six department sites; and execute the 2022-2025 DSH Business Continuity Plan or an individual hospital’s emergency operations plan.
- The contractor selected will provide, at 24 hours’ notice, the ability for DSH to activate up to two standalone, fully functional emergency operational facilities, a.k.a. mobile command centers, at any time, for a disaster or emergency impacting a DSH facility. Each mobile facility must be able to serve at least 30 workstations in a single office environment during a disaster or emergency declaration; maintain 24/7 disaster activation and notification service; incorporate DSH data systems access and security systems for facility; and be deliverable to any of the six DSH sites within 24 hours. Two separate annual on-site tests/exercises of a facility are required. Facilities must have standalone power, support at least 30 workstations with potentially tables, chairs, phones, power, data, network and voice connections. Facilities must have a multifunction business color printer/copier/scanner and supplies; conference phone; 48-port network switch; Wi-Fi/hot spot connection; two LTE 5G or better cradle points, one voice and one data; a satellite connection as needed; and technical support staff 24/7/365 in an activation.
- DSH wants to hear from vendors who can support its business continuity and emergency operational plans; and provide the emergency communications, telecommunications, power and technology it needs during a disaster or emergency. Bidders must have experience working with state and federal agencies, hospitals and health-care organizations during disasters including floods, wildfires and earthquakes. Respondents must describe their experience responding to a variety of emergency and natural disaster situations; their demonstrated experience working with public hospital or health-care organizations in a disaster or emergency environment; a description of delivery for public hospital and health-care organizations of emergency preparedness support services; of their experience with emergency communications to an organization’s staff once a disaster or emergency is declared; and their ability to deliver services to a large geographical area or region across multiple facilities.
- The RFP doesn’t specify the value and term of any contract. Questions from respondents are due by 2 p.m. Aug. 29, and responses will come Sept. 1. Proposals are due by 4 p.m. Sept. 7 and are expected to be evaluated Sept. 11-14. A notice of intent to award is expected by 5 p.m. Sept. 18, and the anticipated contract start date is Oct. 1.
