Dane County panel discusses draft RFP for harm-reduction drop-in center; feasibility study due July 15

Dane County health officials and consultants on June 23 discussed a draft request for proposals for a harm-reduction drop-in center and how findings from an overdose prevention-center feasibility study due July 15 should inform the RFP.

The committee’s discussion centered on which services to require, how to evaluate applicants, and the practical challenge of securing a physical facility. Ariel (director, Dane County Public Health) said the county aims to publish the RFP in September and “ideally, September 1 is what we're aiming for,” but noted the feasibility study’s findings could be incorporated into the final RFP language.

Why this matters: The county has a separate, pending Board resolution about restoring funding for a harm-reduction center from $425,000 to $800,000. The county also previously approved a $100,000 resolution to fund a study of an overdose prevention center. County staff and outside consultants said the services and client groups served by a drop-in center and an overdose prevention…