SCOPE OF WORK
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) shall be a licensed (Medical Doctor or Doctor Osteopathy) or a licensed or certified psychologist, social worker, employee assistance professional, or addiction counselor who is certified by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Certification Commission (NAADAC), or by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse, with knowledge of and clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of drug and alcohol-related disorders. The primary responsibility of the SAP is the evaluation of employees who have engaged in conduct prohibited by the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991 to determine what assistance, if any, the employee needs in resolving problems associated with alcohol misuse or prohibited drug use. The SAP will recommend the appropriate rehabilitation program, if any, and determine that the employee has properly followed such a prescribed program. Under this program, the service provider may not refer an employee to the SAP's own private practice from which the SAP receives remuneration or to a person or organization in which the SAP has a financial interest nor may the SAP act as or be in any way financially connected with Pierce Transit's Medical Review Officer. Pierce Transit has only had to refer two to three persons per year.

The following is the listing of the SAP's specific responsibilities as required by the Department of Transportation in the Common Preamble to the FTA Prevention of Alcohol and Prohibited Drug Misuse in Transit Operations Rules and as detailed in 49 CFR Parts 653 and 654.

1. Evaluate Pierce Transit employees who have engaged in conduct prohibited by the FTA rules to determine what assistance, if any, is required to resolve problems associated with alcohol misuse and prohibited drug use.

2. Be available by phone, directly or through an answering service, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and be able to set an appointment for evaluation within a maximum of 48 hours of employee's initial contact.

3. Prescribe a rehabilitation treatment program based on this evaluation.

4. Monitor employee's participation in prescribed treatment program and advise Pierce Transit of employee's progress.

5. Evaluate employee to determine he or she has followed the prescribed program and arrange for return-to-duty testing for alcohol and drugs.

6. Confirm that employee has passed a return-to-duty alcohol test with a test result of 0.00 and a drug test with verified negative results prior to recommending the employee be released to return to work.

7. Develop in conjunction with Pierce Transit an after-care program and contract that would include follow-up treatment and testing parameters. Consult with Pierce Transit management and union officials as required through after-care programs regarding fitness for duty issues, monitor progress and report to management failure to follow prescribed treatment and after-care.

8. Recommend the number and frequency of follow-up testing, if any, beyond the required six tests in the first 12 months following the employee's return to duty.

9. May be called on to testify in grievance procedures regarding their evaluation, prescribed rehabilitation program, employee's participation in such program and return-to-duty testing.

QUALIFICATIONS
The successful Substance Abuse Professional shall have at a minimum the following qualifications:

1. A Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy licensed in the State of Washington, or a licensed or certified psychologist, social worker, employee assistance professional, or an addiction counselor certified by the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors Certification Commission (NAADAC), or by the International Certification Reciprocity Consortium/Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.

2. Knowledge of Professional Standards of Conduct and demonstrated clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of drug and alcohol related disorders.

3. Thorough knowledge and expertise in applicable state and federal rules, laws and regulations.

4. Described services have been provided to at least one employer comparable in size to Pierce Transit.

5. Breadth of knowledge of substance abuse treatment facilities and resources in the greater Puget Sound area.

6. Membership in professional SAP organization desired.

TERM OF CONTRACT
The contract resulting from this request for proposals shall be for a three-year period with an option to renew the contract for two additional one-year periods upon mutual agreement by both parties.