HHS - Technical Assistance for Person-Centered Practices Programs - MRAS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Administration for Community Living (ACL), is seeking to enhance its support for programs assisting individuals with disabilities and older adults. The primary goal is to bolster the implementation of person-centered thinking, planning, and practices (PCTPP) across various initiatives. This effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure that services and supports are aligned with the personal goals and preferences of individuals, fostering an environment where choice genuinely reflects individual aspirations.

Person-centered practices have been integral to long-term services and supports (LTSS) within HHS policies, as articulated in statutes, regulations, guidance documents, and previous grant actions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule in January 2014 that underscores the importance of person-centered planning in state programs under specific waivers and options. This framework emphasizes that services should be designed around individual preferences, reinforcing ACL's mission to empower older adults and people with disabilities to live independently in their communities.

Despite progress at the policy level, many state programs continue to face challenges in effectively implementing these person-centered approaches. The demand for technical assistance has been significant, often outstripping available resources. To address this need, the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) was established as a central hub for technical assistance, resource development, learning collaboratives, webinars, and more. However, funding limitations have meant that only about half of the states requesting assistance could be supported through competitive application processes.

To further advance these efforts, HHS is conducting market research through this Request for Information (RFI). The aim is to identify capable contractors who can provide the necessary technical assistance to expand the reach of person-centered practices across more programs nationwide. This initiative seeks not only to meet current demand but also to foster shared learning among states by disseminating successful strategies and outcomes from existing technical assistance efforts.