Network Development & Recruitment

The primary role of the Network Development and Recruitment (ND&R) unit is the development and recruitment of Qualified Vendors statewide, particularly in geographical areas where service availability does not meet the demand of the Arizona Long Term Care Services (ALTCS) membership. ND&R recruits new Qualified Vendors and collaborates and partners with existing Qualified Vendors to expand their service array into other geographical areas or amend their Qualified Vendor Agreement to include additional service options based on need.

ND&R offers virtual orientations to explain this process and answer questions.

Current or prospective Qualified Vendors interested in attending an orientation session should complete the Potential Qualified Vendor/Provider Recruitment form.

The Request for Qualified Vendor Application (RFQVA) is the Division’s contract for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). For more information and a list of services currently being solicited, visit the Contract Information for Qualified Vendors web page and refer to the "Services Contracted under the RFQVA" section

Steps to Become a Qualified Vendor

There are several steps that must be completed before an applicant becomes a Qualified Vendor and can begin providing services. Below is a list of the steps included in the process.

1. Complete the Potential Qualified Vendor/Provider Recruitment Form to schedule an orientation for potential qualified vendors.
2. Complete and submit your application in the Contract Administration System (CAS) in the Focus application.
3. The initial review of your application will be completed by your assigned Contract Management Specialist (CMS) and can take up to 30 days from the date it was received. The initial feedback on your application will be provided to the Notice Contact email address. Revisions must be completed, uploaded, and submitted by the due date, which is provided in the initial feedback.
4. As the applicant, you will have 15 days to complete, upload, and submit revisions as requested in the initial feedback.
5. Once your revisions have been submitted by the due date, the application will be reviewed in its entirety. You will be notified of the approval or denial of your application within 60 days of receipt of your revisions.
6. If the application is approved, you will begin to work with other departments of DDD including but not limited to: Network, the Office of Licensing, Certification and Regulation (OLCR), and Credentialing.
7. The Network department will work with you on completing the required Readiness Review, in which you will submit policies and procedures for the services on your contract.
8. While the Network team is working with you on your Readiness Review, you will be simultaneously gathering documents that must be submitted to your respective CMS (this process is referred to as Pre-Credentialing). Your CMS will inform you of the requirements at that time.
9. A referral to Credentialing takes place after the Readiness Review has been completed and all of the Pre-Credentialing requirements have been met and documentation provided to your CMS. Please note, it can take up to 60 days for a credentialing determination once referred.
10. If a service or services are credentialed, you and your CMS will receive a letter from the Credentialing Committee. It may take up to 10 days after the determination to receive the letter.
11. Once your CMS has received the letter, they will issue a service start date for the credentialed service(s). Services cannot be provided until you have been issued a service start date and receive authorizations.

Current or prospective Qualified Vendors can contact the ND&R team with any questions via email at [email protected].