Purpose
Compass is a child and youth mental health agency in Northern Ontario, committed to delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate services. We are seeking proposals from qualified professionals or organizations with demonstrated expertise in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) with adolescents (12-17) to provide clinical consultation, training, and direct service delivery to support our DBT-informed programming.

Compass Overview
Compass information, Strategic Planning Priorities and Annual reports are available on the Compass website: http://www.compassne.ca ]

2. Scope of Services
The selected provider(s) will be expected to deliver services that reflect the core principles and practices of DBT, with a focus on youth (12-17) and caregivers. Services must include:

• Assessment of Client Suitability and Pre-Treatment Commitment
o Conduct/ contribute to assessments to determine DBT appropriateness.
o Provide coaching to the admission and assessment committee, supporting pre-treatment sessions to enhance motivation and commitment.
• DBT from a Live-In Treatment Lens
o Coach and assist a multi-disciplinary team in applying DBT principles within a live-in treatment setting.
o Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure continuity of care.
• Case Conceptualization and Treatment Planning
o Develop individualized DBT-informed case formulations.
o Integrate biosocial theory and chain analysis into treatment planning.
• DBT Skills and Modules
o Demonstrate expertise in the five DBT modules:
 Mindfulness
 Distress Tolerance
 Emotion Regulation
 Interpersonal Effectiveness
 Walking the Middle Path
o Assist the team in tailoring content to developmental needs of children and adolescents through coaching and consultation.
• Comprehensive vs. DBT-Informed Programming
o Distinguish between full-model DBT and DBT-informed approaches.
o Support the agency in aligning services with appropriate fidelity.
• Phone Coaching and Engagement Strategies
o Coach and consult with the team to support the team in offering phone coaching to clients and caregivers.
o Promote appropriate use and boundaries of phone coaching.
o Implement procedures to elicit change, commitment, and engagement.

3. Qualifications and Experience
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience delivering DBT services to children and youth (aged 12-17).
• Formal training in DBT (e.g., Behavioral Tech, DBT-LBC, or equivalent).
• Experience working in community-based and/or live-in treatment settings.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams.

4. Service Expectations
• Availability for urgent consultations within a 24-hour response window.
• Weekly virtual check-ins with agency staff.
• On-site travel as required for training, consultation, or direct service.
• Ability to provide services during after-hours when needed.

5. Proposal Requirements
Interested applicants must submit a proposal that includes:
• A cover letter summarizing interest and relevant experience.
• A detailed description of how the provider will meet the scope of services.
• A breakdown of hourly, after-hours, and monthly rates.
• A sample case conceptualization or treatment plan (de-identified).
• Two professional references familiar with the provider’s DBT work.

6. Submission Deadline
All proposals must be submitted electronically to nminialoff@compassne.ca by November 23rd, 2025.

7. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
• Demonstrated expertise in DBT with youth (12-17)
• Alignment with agency needs and values
• Clarity and feasibility of service delivery plan
• Cost-effectiveness
• References and past performance

We look forward to partnering with professionals who are passionate about advancing DBT practices for children, youth, and families. Please direct any questions to Nicole Minialoff at nminialoff@compassne.ca.

Term of Contract

The contract between the selected consultant and the organization will be established for an initial term of one (1) year, commencing on December, 2025 with potential for renewal.

At the conclusion of the initial term, the contract may be renewed or extended based on mutual agreement between both parties. Any extension must be formalized in writing and signed by authorized representatives of the facility and the provider before the existing contract expires.

During the contract period, either party may terminate the agreement with 60 days written notice, provided that all outstanding obligations, including invoicing, and payment, are fulfilled. Grounds for early termination may include, but are not limited to:
• Non-compliance with contract terms or regulatory standards.
• Failure to meet service and performance expectations.
• Mutual agreement between both parties.

Any modifications to the contract’s terms, including pricing, service scope, or regulatory adjustments, must be documented and signed by both parties before implementation.

Proposal Summary and Evaluation Criteria

Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested consultants must submit a comprehensive proposal that addresses the following key components:
1. Scope of Services – Detailed explanation of how the provider will fulfill all service requirements and compliance with regulatory standards.
2. Payment Terms – Confirmation of acceptance of the fixed monthly fee structure, invoicing procedures, and payment timeline.
3. Contract Term – Agreement to the proposed contract duration, renewal options, and termination clauses.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed and scored based on the following criteria:
Evaluation Category Weight
Relevance and depth of experience 30%
Demonstrated understanding of DBT 30%
Professional credentials and affiliations 10%
Cost effectiveness and transparency of pricing 10%
Quality of references and past performance 20%

Each proposal will be assessed for clarity, feasibility, regulatory compliance, and alignment with the organizations needs. Consultants are encouraged to include additional value propositions.

Legal Disclaimer

The submission of a proposal in response to this Request for Proposal (RFP) does not create a legally binding agreement between the submitting pharmacy provider and the organization.
The organization reserves the right to review, evaluate, and reject any or all proposals at its sole discretion. Participation in the RFP process does not guarantee selection or the awarding of a contract. The organization may request additional information, conduct negotiations, or modify the scope of services before entering into a formal agreement.

No contractual obligations shall arise until a final agreement is signed by authorized representatives of both parties. Any costs incurred in preparing or submitting a proposal are the sole responsibility of the service provider.