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Sarasota News Leader October 5, 2012 tion," "Accountability" and making their ser- vices "consumer driven." Only three entities were deemed "qualified" to receive the Intent to Negotiate: Clearwater's Baycare Behavioral Health, Lakeland's Tri-County Human Services and First Step of Sarasota. Responding to concerns about having out-of- county entities handling behavioral care here, the DCF representative at the Sept. 28 meet- ing told stakeholders that if the "community response" is "collaborative with enhanced integration of services, it will be considered competitive" with the Clearwater and Lake- land organizations. "This is something completely new. They've never done anything like this before," says Sarasota County Behavioral Health Policy Co- ordinator Pamela Meunier. But Floridians should get used to it. According to Meunier, competitive procurement is going to be DCF modus operandi statewide for at least "the next few years." Indeed, according Page 20 to the meeting minutes, "all behavioral health services in the state will be competitively pro- cured" at some point. A 2011 year-end report from DCF claimed that through the competitive process, the depart- ment has "increased services and improved outcomes as well as reduced administrative costs." According to that report, "the majority of new contracts were awarded to a success- ful incumbent," a sign that First Step (whose president and CEO, David Beesley, did not re- spond to calls) has a good shot at landing the new contract. "They're looking for effectiveness," says Meunier. "They're looking for more bang for the buck — just like when they procure for road-building and bridge-building." The three organizations' applications are due Dec. 31; a final agreement should be ham- mered out by next April. The new contract will kick in July 1, 2013, and will last one year. Enter To Win A New iPad When our "Likes" on Facebook reach 1,000, we will randomly select one of our subscribers to receive a new iPad. The contest concludes when The Sarasota News Leader achieves 1,000 "Likes" on Facebook, One winner will be selected at random from among sub- scribers. Only subscribers are eligible to win the iPad, regardless of having "Liked" our page on Facebook. Contest is open only to residents of Sarasota County. Selected winners must provide a valid Sarasota County street address to receive the iPad. Contest is void where prohibited by law. 1 Click to Subscribe 2 Then Like Us On Facebook