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County authorizes capital and start-up grants for small behavioral-health providers
Summary
The Board authorized the county manager to award up to $2 million in small-provider capital and start-up grants under the Behavioral Health Initiative; staff said three proposals were received and negotiations are underway.
Bernalillo County commissioners authorized the county manager Jan. 14 to award contracts under RFP 36-24-EM for capital and start-up grants to small behavioral-health providers using a $2 million allocation from the county’s Behavioral Health Initiative gross receipts tax fund.
Deputy County Manager Wayne Lindstrom said eligible applicants must have annual operating budgets of less than $500,000. Staff reported they received three proposals and are negotiating awards; the total allocation is $2,000,000 and staff said the award amounts will be negotiated in contract terms subject to county procurement rules and contract conditions, including reporting requirements and clawback provisions.
Commissioners asked about award size, oversight and how the funds would be used. Lindstrom and staff clarified the grants can fund capital projects (construction, expansion) as well as start-up costs; they noted that construction dollars can be expensive and that large capital awards for small providers are sometimes necessary to expand facility capacity. Staff confirmed contracts will include reporting, monitoring and clawback provisions and said the department will continue outreach to identify additional small providers and consider tiered approaches in future solicitations.
Commissioners supported the awards but asked staff to return with refinements, including potential tiered approaches or streamlined application pathways to reach very small providers that face administrative hurdles.
