TIER 2: Skills building trainings

SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND

The National Association of Medicaid Directors (NAMD) seeks proposals from consultants who can design and deliver three tiers of support for Medicaid leaders and their teams. These engagements can be either on an in-kind basis or as a paid contractual arrangement. The three tiers of support include:

TIER 1: Coaching and one-on-one support. This just-in-time program management and leadership support is intended to help Medicaid Directors and members of their senior team with time-limited coaching or light touch strategic guidance. We are seeking former Medicaid Directors to provide this assistance.

TIER 2: Skills building trainings. These trainings are for Medicaid leaders from all 50-states, D.C., and the territories and are designed to build or enhance the core skills that Medicaid leaders need to successfully administer the Medicaid program. We are seeking former Medicaid Directors or other former senior leaders in Medicaid programs to provide this assistance.

TIER 3: Strategic support for NAMD. Consultants will provide regular support to NAMD staff over the 12-month period of performance. This support will enhance the association’s internal knowledge and capacity in key areas of strategic focus. We are seeking former Medicaid Directors or other former senior leaders in Medicaid programs to provide this assistance.

TIER 3: Strategic support for NAMD. Consultants will provide regular support to NAMD staff over the 12-month period of performance. This support will enhance the association’s internal knowledge and capacity in key areas of strategic focus. We are seeking former Medicaid Directors or other former senior leaders in Medicaid programs to provide this assistance.

NAMD will accept proposals until 5:00 p.m. ET on October 9, 2023. Bidders may submit proposals in one or more tiers of support.

TIER 2: Skills building trainings

To successfully administer a high performing Medicaid program, Medicaid leaders must have an array of skills — many of which are unique to leading a large public sector program, like Medicaid. Typically, Medicaid leaders must cultivate some, or many, of these skills on the job, often without formal organizational structures or support for doing so.

NAMD’s Skill Building Trainings are highly interactive and practical adult learning experiences to help Medicaid leaders gain or strengthen the skills needed to succeed. These trainings support Medicaid leaders in a variety of senior leadership roles and functions, such as Medicaid Directors, financial leaders, policy professionals, operations leaders, chiefs of staff, and other core roles. All trainings focus on skills that are uniquely applied in Medicaid and content is delivered through the Medicaid-specific lens (as opposed to a generic set of skills). This ensures learnings are applicable to the unique realities of working in a Medicaid program.

Examples of prior trainings include:

• Delivering effective legislative testimony
• Navigating gubernatorial and secretary-level leadership transitions
• Effective writing in Medicaid
• Strategic communications
• Effective time management for Medicaid leaders
• Crisis communications

NAMD is seeking to contract with consultants who can design and deliver Skill Building Trainings at three levels of rigor, intensity, and depth, described below: Master Class, Deep Dive, or Learning Labs. Consultants will be responsible for planning the content in partnership with NAMD staff, developing accompanying materials and tools, delivering the training, and participating in follow-up (as appropriate). NAMD is seeking to contract for up to two (2) master class trainings, four (4) deep dive trainings, and two (2) learning labs. These trainings will be delivered over a 12-month period.

Compensation 

Payment will be consummate with the scope and intensity of the Skill Building Training being proposed. See the following grid for reference. For any in-person trainings, contractors’ travel expenses for in-person trainings will be reimbursed separately.

Submitting a Proposal

Complete NAMD’s skills building submission form by 5:00 p.m. ET on October 9, 2023 to be considered.

Evaluation Criteria

NAMD will evaluate the proposals based on the following criteria. The proposal demonstrates:

• An understanding of the needs and challenges facing Medicaid leaders and the skills Medicaid leaders need to be successful (across a range of roles/functions)
• An understanding of best practices in adult learning, including how to deliver interactive, highly practical trainings
• Creativity in the proposed training design
• A commitment to providing practical tools and resources to accompany the training
• Consultants who would deliver the training have lived experience as a Medicaid Director or former deputy in a Medicaid program

TIMELINE

Call for proposals opens: September 21, 2023

Call for proposals closes: October 9, 2023

Invitations issued: Invitations will be issued on a rolling basis, beginning in late October with Tier 1 support. All invitations will be issued by December 1, 2023.

REQUIREMENTS

Intellectual property. All concepts, writings, and trainings, which are conceived or made by contractors, will be considered the sole and exclusive property of NAMD.

Conflicts of interest To protect the interests of Medicaid Directors and NAMD, we require all potential contractors and in-kind partners to complete a conflict-of-interest disclosure and provide a list of current clients. We recognize that in some cases contractors may not be able to disclose their relationships with other clients. Therefore, an expedited process asks the potential contractor to disclose the broad categories of clients with which they are doing business. For a list of such categories see the Sample NAMD Client Disclosure document. NAMD maintains disclosure statements for twelve months.  NAMD’S conflict of interest policy is reviewed annually by the Board Governance Committee.