ESBD_454970_1758229869053_RFI HHS0016690 - Operation of Dallas State Hospital.pdf

Cecile E. Young, Executive Commissioner

Request for Information (RFI) for

Operation of Dallas State Hospital

RFI No. HHS0016690

Date of Release: September 18, 2025 Responses Due: November 18, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. Central Time

NIGP

958-56 Health Care Management Services, Including Managed Care Services 958-58 Hospital Management Services 958-67 Mental Health Management Services, Including Operations, Facilities

Maintenance, Nursing, Food Service, etc. 24/7

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Purpose

3. Background

4. Scope

4.1 Criteria for Admission

4.2 Patient Management

4.3 Selection and Removal of Staff

4.4 Health Screening

4.5 Support Services

4.6 Patient Billing

4.7 Risk Management

4.8 Collaboration with HHSC

4.9 Accreditation

5. Additional Miscellaneous Information

5.1 General Information

5.2 Response Submission, Date, Time and Location

5.3 Designated Point of Contact

5.4 Response Format

5.5 Texas Public Information Act

5.6 Disclaimers

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1. Introduction The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) seeking information regarding the operation of Dallas State Hospital (DSH or the Hospital), one of 11 state owned psychiatric hospitals. The intent is to determine the potential public interest in contracting with HHSC to fully operate DSH for patients with inpatient psychiatric mental health needs, including competency restoration services. DSH will be part of the broader Texas State Hospital System and will serve as such regardless of the operating entity.

2. Purpose The purpose of this RFI is to determine the interest, feasibility and potential costs of organizations to fully operate DSH, which will have 292 beds, with 125 beds designated as adult forensic, 75 designated as civil and/or voluntary, and 92 beds designated for pediatrics.

This RFI describes the components required to operate DSH and requests information regarding interest and ability to comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations, standards, guidelines, and policies, as well as the expectations of HHSC. This RFI may be used to help HHSC gauge interest and capabilities to provide the services outlined in this RFI.

3. Background Texas Health and Human Services Commission is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the planning and delivery of health and human services programs throughout the State of Texas. As part of its responsibilities, HHSC currently operates state hospitals (Texas State Hospitals or State Hospitals) across the State of Texas that provide inpatient psychiatric care.

In 2021, the Texas Legislature appropriated funding for land acquisition, planning, and design of a new state inpatient mental health facility, as defined by Texas Health and Safety Code §571.003(9), in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

After identifying a location for the new inpatient mental health facility in the Southwestern Medical District, HHSC received approval from the Office of the Texas Governor and the Legislative Budget Board to move forward with construction of the Hospital.

The construction project is designed to be completed in two major phases. The 200-bed adult portion of the hospital being constructed first and the 92-bed pediatric portion being completed second. All phases of construction are expected to be completed by April 2026. As each phase is completed, HHSC will dedicate resources to opening and starting operations of the hospital.

As directed in SB1, Article II, Rider 63(b), 89th Legislative Session, HHSC is seeking information to evaluate the level of interest, feasibility, and potential costs

P a g e 4 | 18 associated with contracting a qualified organization to manage and operate the hospital in its entirety.

4. Scope The scope of work indicated by this RFI is for full operations of a 292-bed psychiatric hospital to include providing a safe, supportive and therapeutic environment while providing comprehensive, intensive, individualized, inpatient psychiatric care for adult and pediatric patients at DSH as part of the broader Texas State Hospital System.

The services requested include evaluation, daily treatment, education, training, stabilization, and discharge planning. These services will be delivered by staff that have advanced training, and skill sets in working with psychiatric patients. The areas listed below are to give a brief description of the different areas required to operate a state psychiatric hospital.

4.1 Criteria for Admission

Prospective patients of the State Hospital System may be court-ordered for admission, referred from another hospital, enter the hospital seeking services for themselves, or be voluntarily admitted by referrals from the local mental health authority (LMHA), local behavioral health authority (LBHA) or Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA). Appropriate use criteria are applied accordingly for all prospective state hospital patients.

The State Hospital System defines the following:

a. Walk-in- An individual who presents at a psychiatric hospital on their own or who may be accompanied by other parties such as law enforcement, family members and/or guardians without a prior appointment, referral or scheduled admission seeking mental health services, assessment, or crisis intervention resulting in a psychiatric evaluation by the hospital practitioner.

b. Unscheduled Admission- An individual who after presenting at a psychiatric hospital without a prior coordinated appointment, referral or scheduled admission is evaluated by the hospital practitioner and is determined to be appropriate for inpatient admission. This may also be referred to as a walk-in admission.

c. Scheduled Admission- An individual who, based on coordinated efforts by the facility, all involved referring parties and State Hospital central office personnel, presents at a psychiatric hospital for an admission evaluation and after evaluation by the hospital practitioner is determined to be appropriate for inpatient admission.

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4.1.1 Court Ordered Patients

While the State Hospital System is not intended to serve as the primary screening resource for acutely ill patients, the inclusion of appropriate use criteria screening as part of the admission process is permissible in the context of court-ordered admissions. Patients referred to a state hospital under court order and then assessed by a member of the medical staff as not currently expected to benefit from the admission either due to failure to meet psychiatric criteria, due to the presence of acute or chronic medical condition criteria, or both, will be transferred to a more appropriate setting as quickly as possible after admission. Court ordered scheduled admissions will be closely coordinated with the State Hospital System Central Office and admissions will be planned based on priority set by Central Office staff.

4.1.2 Patients Referred from a Hospital or an

Emergency Department

A prospective patient in these settings must be assessed by a staff member of the LMHA, LBHA or LIDDA who shall determine if the prospective patient meets psychiatric criteria for a state hospital admission.

Additionally, the prospective patient must have been assessed by an attending member of the medical staff at the referring hospital or emergency room and to confirm the absence of acute and/or uncontrolled chronic medical conditions. The attending member of the medical staff shall also participate in a “hand-off communication” telephone call with a member of the medical staff of the state hospital.

The call is intended to acquire clinical information, determine if the patient’s current medical needs can be met by the state hospital, and to collaborate regarding any requisite preadmission testing or treatment. Based on the information provided in the “hand-off-communication” process and on state hospital appropriate use criteria, the member of the state hospital medical staff will determine whether to accept or deny the patient’s transfer to the state hospital.

Patients referred to a state hospital from another hospital or an emergency department who are then assessed by a member of the state hospital medical staff as not currently expected to benefit from the admission will be transferred to a more appropriate setting as quickly as possible in coordination with the LMHA or LBHA.

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4.1.3 Patients Referred from Another Setting

A prospective patient referred from an LMHA, LBHA or LIDDA clinic or other community setting must be assessed by a clinician to determine if the prospective patient meets psychiatric criteria for the Dallas State Hospital (DSH). If the patient appears not to have any acute and/or uncontrolled chronic medical conditions, the patient may be referred to the state hospital. If there is concern regarding the patient’s possible acute and/or uncontrolled chronic medical conditions, the assessing clinician must contact the DSHDSH accepting member of the medical staff prior to referral. Based on the information provided by the clinician and state hospital appropriate use criteria, the member of the state hospital medical staff will determine whether to accept or deny the patient’s transfer to the state hospital.

Patients referred to the Dallas State Hospital from the setting described in this section who are then assessed by a member of the state hospital medical staff as not currently expected to benefit from the admission will be transferred to a more appropriate setting as quickly as possible in coordination with the LMHA, LBHA or LIDDA.

4.1.4 Voluntary Patients

A prospective patient who self-refers must always be assessed by a member of the state hospital medical staff to determine if the proposed patient meets appropriate use criteria for a state hospital.

Regardless of appropriateness for admission, the state hospital will, in all such cases, provide an appropriate medical screening examination within the hospital’s capability in order to determine whether an emergent medical condition exists, provide necessary stabilizing treatment within the capability of the hospital, and make an appropriate transfer if stabilization is not within the hospital’s capability.

4.2 Patient Management

The areas listed below are intended to be brief description of the services, requirements and program areas provided to all patients admitted to an inpatient state psychiatric hospital.

4.2.1 Psychiatric Services

Provide individualized, holistic, trauma-informed psychiatric care for adults, adolescents, and children. Psychiatric services provided at the state hospital must include assessments and evaluations consistent

P a g e 7 | 18 with The Joint Commission and CMS standards and State Hospital Guidelines and Policies. These services also include prescribing and administering medications, including psychotropic medications, obtaining informed consents, implementing emergency treatment orders, and providing patient education.

4.2.2 Programming services

Mental health programming offers a structured path to recovery for individuals living with serious mental illness by combining clinical care, community support, and person-centered goal setting. Program services to include forensic programming, competency restoration, spiritual services, substance abuse education, mental health education, peer support services, and community reintegration to meet individual patient needs, as well as school services for pediatric patients.

4.2.3 Medical Services

Provide routine medical and dental services such as preventative care, routine medical care and coordinating emergent medical services.

4.2.4 Nursing Services

Provide onsite 24-hour nursing services, including assessment, diagnostic, planning, intervention, medication administration, and evaluation of the patient’s nursing care needs, and maintain the necessary staffing levels, as determined by patient’s acuity needs at the state hospital. Nursing services must be based on person-centered, evidenced based care that provides recovery focused care to mitigate the impact of psychiatric disorders.

4.2.5 Pharmacy

Provide pharmaceutical services that meet the needs of patients, including practices that minimize potential for drug errors and diversion.

4.2.6 Radiologic Services

Provide, or ensure access to, diagnostic radiologic services.

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4.2.7 Laboratory Services

Maintain or have available laboratory services that operate under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) certification requirements.

4.2.8 Infection Prevention

Management of a hospital-wide program for surveillance, prevention, and control of healthcare acquired infections and infectious diseases as well as managing an antibiotic stewardship plan.

4.2.9 Discharge Planning

Management of a discharge planning process that includes the patient goals, plans for post discharge care, and meets applicable laws related to commitments under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Joint discharge planning with the LMHA/LBHA as required by Texas Health and Safety Code Section 534.0535, including the designation of at least one employee to provide transition support services.

4.2.10 Emergency Services

Provide emergency medical services and manage medical emergencies until patients can be transferred to a higher level of care. Provide the ability to evaluate persons presenting for admission for psychiatric care on a 24-hour, 7 day a week basis.

4.2.11 Patient Records and Information

Provide a complete and accurate medical record for each patient evaluated or treated in the state hospital. Maintain an electronic medication management system that includes physician order entry, medication administration, and pharmacy oversight. Medical records are to be accurately written, promptly completed, properly filed and retained, and accessible. Use a system of author identification and record maintenance that ensures the integrity of the authentication and protects the security of all record entries.

4.2.12 Quality Management

Develop and implement a quality management plan. The plan must ensure compliance with The Joint Commission and CMS standards.

The plan shall describe a continuous program for evaluating and

P a g e 9 | 18 improving the quality of clinical and non-clinical services and shall include:

a. Measurement of performance using objective quality indicators;

b. Implementation of individual and system interventions to improve the quality of services;

c. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions, and

d. Planning and initiation of activities for increasing and sustaining improvements in the quality of services.

4.2.13 Utilization Review

Maintain a utilization review (UR) plan that provides for review of services provided by the state hospital and by members of the medical staff to patients entitled to benefits under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

4.3 Selection and Removal of Staff

Texas State Hospitals are bound to criminal background and national registry checks prior to and during the employment of each staff member in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code (HSC) Chapter 250, and 26 TAC Chapter 926 Subchapter B with additional statutory authority provided in Texas Government Code §411.1103. Develop and implement policies and procedures that outline requirements for conducting state and nationwide criminal background checks (CBCs) and clearance in statewide databases, to include Employee Misconduct Registry (EMR), the Client Abuse and Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), the Texas Nurse Aide Registry (NAR), sexual exploitation reference checks, state and nationwide new arrest notifications, and annual registry checks.

4.3.1 Staffing Plan

Provide a plan to staff the hospital for all patient management, support services, and other functions to ensure patient needs and safety are met and compliance with regulations including Health and Safety Code

257.003. The staffing plan should reflect safe and therapeutic milieu management. Qualified personnel to be maintained in accordance with all Joint Commission standards, Texas statutory requirements, HHSC regulations and policies, and established industry standards for Inpatient Mental Health Facilities.

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4.3.2 Fiscal Requirements

Provide budget management of daily operations of a psychiatric hospital. All financial practices must be in compliance with applicable governmental financial standards. Ensure proper financial staff are employed for financial data and management.

4.4 Health Screening

Provide a plan that protects patients from vaccine preventable diseases. This plan must comply with Texas state law and will identify non-immune healthcare personnel, assess their risk of vaccine preventable diseases, and ensure vaccinations when needed to minimize such risks. This plan will comply with state hospital health screening and vaccine requirements.

4.5 Support Services

Provide comprehensive support services that ensure safe, efficient, and therapeutic operations at Dallas State Hospital. Requirements include:

4.5.1 Dietary Services

Provide nutritionally balanced meals tailored to patient needs (e.g., medical, religious, cultural, pediatric-friendly, and allergy-specific diets); employ a registered dietitian to oversee menu planning and compliance with federal/state nutritional standards; and ensure food safety protocols per applicable standards and manage food storage, preparation, and delivery.

4.5.2 Housekeeping and Environmental Services

Maintain cleanliness and infection control standards per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regulations. Capabilities must include implementing protocols for biohazardous waste disposal, routine disinfection, and terminal cleaning of patient and common areas.

4.5.3 Facilities Management and Maintenance

Provide a strategic plan that aligns with applicable federal, state, and local codes, standards, and regulations to ensure minimal disruption to hospital operations during maintenance activities. The plan must demonstrate the capability to perform comprehensive building

P a g e 11 | 18 maintenance activities to ensure operational safety, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure longevity. Key requirements include but not limited to, preventive maintenance, fire safety, utility management, medical equipment maintenance, corrective maintenance responses, and adequate record keeping and reporting.

4.5.4 Laundry and Linen Services

Provide hygienic processing of linens, including segregation and disinfection protocols for contaminated materials, and ensure adequate inventory of clean linens and patient clothing.

4.5.5 Fleet Management

Provide vehicles for fleet services to include but not limited to, patient and staff transportation, security, supply services. Fleet vehicles will need to meet HHSC standards for patient transportation.

4.5.6 Supply Services

Provide management and purchasing of supplies for the operation of the facility and ensure an adequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Inventory control system will not be provided by HHSC.

4.5.7 Security Services

Provide 24/7 security personnel trained in de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and forensic patient management. Management of access control systems, surveillance cameras, and emergency response protocols.

Capability to coordinate safe intra-facility transport for patients with mobility or behavioral needs.

Capability to manage off-site medical transfers (if required), including vehicles equipped for psychiatric patients.

4.5.8 Rights Protection Services

Provide procedures to investigate and resolve complaints and grievances of patients, families, legally authorized representatives and staff who express concern regarding patient rights. Will serve as liaison between the hospital and Provider Investigations, Office of

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Inspector General, Disability Rights of Texas, HHS Office of the Ombudsman, and other HHS and internal stakeholders regarding patient rights, including investigations and inquiries.

4.5.9 Information Technology (IT) and Health

Information Systems

Provide and maintain secure electronic health record (EHR) systems that are compliant with the standards for electronic transaction adopted under HIPAA, the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act, and interoperability with HHSC systems.

4.5.10 Staff Support Services

Provide staff break areas, locker rooms, and on-site wellness resources (e.g., mental health support and crisis counseling) And ergonomic workspaces.

4.5.11 Emergency Preparedness

Develop and perform drills for emergency plans for disasters (e.g., tornadoes, fires, power outages, and infectious disease outbreaks).

Provide established written policies in place for a comprehensive Risk Management program that utilizes an all-hazards approach and identifies how risks are managed in accordance with The Joint Commission Emergency Management (EM) standards.

Must be able to coordinate with local EMS, public health agencies, and HHSC during crises.

4.5.12 Contingency & Business Continuity

Planning

Provide a high-level overview of the business continuity plan and evidence of disaster drills conducted within the past 12 months.

Include the organization’s contingency plans for maintaining operations during disruptions such as:

a. Natural disasters (e.g., tornadoes, power outages common to North Texas).

b. Public health emergencies (e.g., pandemics).

c. Critical system failures (e.g., EHR downtime, utility outages).

d. Workforce shortages or labor disputes.

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4.6 Patient Billing

Provide staff with the ability to bill services to all 3rd party paying sources and comply with HSCS standard operating procedures for billing practices at a state psychiatric facility.

4.7 Risk Management

Develop a proactive approach to risk management. This section provides insights into strategies for identifying, mitigating, and monitoring risks to ensure staff and patient safety, regulatory compliance, and operational continuity.

4.7.1 Risk Identification & Assessment

Identifying and prioritizing risks specific to psychiatric hospital operations, including but not limited to:

a. Patient safety (e.g., self-harm, elopement, aggression).

b. Staff safety and workplace violence prevention.

c. Compliance with Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) regulations, The Joint Commission standards, and federal requirements (e.g., CMS, HIPAA).

d. Financial risks (e.g., budget adherence, Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement processes).

e. Reputational risks (e.g., community concerns, media relations).

f. Environmental hazards (e.g., extreme weather preparedness for Dallas-area facilities).

4.7.2 Risk Mitigation Strategies

Provide mitigation strategies deployed at comparable facilities and procedures to address identified risks, including:

a. Staff training programs for de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and emergency response.

b. Protocols for medication management, restraint/seclusion reduction, and suicide prevention.

c. Cybersecurity measures for protecting electronic health records (EHRs) and patient data.

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d. Strategies to address community concerns (e.g., public meetings, transparency initiatives).

4.7.3 Incident Reporting & Monitoring

Provide a process for documenting, investigating, and reporting incidents to state agencies (including Office of Inspector General) and stakeholders formation to include:

a. Tools/software used for real-time incident tracking.

b. Escalation protocols for high-severity events (e.g., patient harm, regulatory violations).

c. Methods for analyzing incident trends to improve systemic risk reduction.

4.7.4 Historical Risk Management Performance

Provide examples of how the organization has successfully managed risks at similar facilities, including:

Reductions in adverse events (e.g., falls, restraints) over a 3-year period.

Responses to significant incidents (e.g., litigation, regulatory citations).

Community partnerships to address localized risks (e.g., collaborations with Dallas law enforcement or homeless outreach teams).

This section will be evaluated on the comprehensiveness of the organization’s risk management approach, alignment with state priorities, and demonstrated capacity to safeguard vulnerable populations.

4.8 Collaboration with HHSC

Collaboration and monitoring will occur between contractor, HHSC and Texas State Hospitals to include administrative, fiscal and programmatic components as well as outcome reporting, quality measures, aggregated patient data and other metrics as needed.

4.9 Accreditation

Accreditation with The Joint Commission (TJC), or another accrediting organization granted deeming authority by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), such as Det Norske Veritas, Inc. (DNV).

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5. Additional Miscellaneous Information

a. Provide narrative on respondent’s comprehensive experience in working with patients with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring substance use in inpatient settings.

b. Provide narrative on respondent’s knowledge and prior implementation of evidence-based programs for all proposed programs.

c. Provide Narrative on respondent’s organizational viability, providing examples of specific customers, contact information, and assessments of program performance.

d. Provide narrative on respondent’s capacity to recruit staff and implement the proposed unit on a rapid timeframe.

e. Provide narrative on respondent’s ideal staffing plan for fully operating a 292-bed psychiatric facility.

f. Provide narrative on respondent’s structure for governance, administrative, and budgetary stability.

g. Provide narrative o respondent’s high-level operational budget to include a daily bed day rate, including a single adult bed day rate, a single pediatric bed day rate, and a blended rate. Budget may include any start up or ramp costs associated with the transition of operations and cost offsets due to third party payments.

h. Additional materials may be included as attachments and must be clearly labeled as such. These may include annual reports, marketing materials, case studies, etc.

HHSC may, but is not obligated to, respond to questions submitted to the designated point of contact provided in Section 5.3 – Designated Point of Contact, below.

5.1 General Information

HHSC is issuing this RFI for the sole purpose of obtaining information on the cost and feasibility for contracting for DSH operations. HHSC encourages any party with direct experience in the subject matter of this RFI to submit a response.

All materials received by HHSC become the property of HHSC and will not be returned to the sender. There will be no acknowledgment by HHSC of receipt of the information. Acceptance of responses to this RFI places no obligation of any kind upon HHSC. Any information or ideas received from respondents to the RFI in any form may be used by HHSC without restriction for any purpose determined by HHSC.

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The descriptions presented in this RFI are tentative and may undergo change prior to actual release of any potential further RFI related to the scope of this

RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning and does not constitute a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) or a Request for Proposal (RFP) and a commitment on the part of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to conduct a solicitation for services in the future. Respondents are advised that HHSC will not pay for information submitted in response to this RFI, nor will it compensate respondents for any costs incurred in the development/furnishing of a response.

HHSC is authorized to engage with vendors through this RFI by Texas Government Code Section 2155.090(b). HHSC will conduct this RFI and engage with the vendor community in accordance with the Health and Human Services (HHS) Vendor Interaction Policy, available on the HHS website at https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/vendor-contract-information/vendor-interaction-policy.pdf.

5.2 Response Submission, Date, Time and Location

HHSC welcomes written responses and comments related to this RFI by:

5:00 p.m. Central Time

November 18, 2025

Responses may be submitted via e-mail to HHSC’s designated point-of-contact, as identified in Section 5.3 – Designated Point of Contact. Faxed responses or verbal inquiries will not be accepted. It is not the intent of HHSC to respond to comments or questions, but if additional information is issued relating to the RFI, it will be made available on the Electronic State Business Daily (ESBD).

5.3 Designated Point of Contact

HHSC’s official single point of contact for this RFI and the delivery point for all responses and correspondence is:

HHS Procurement and Contracting Services

Attn: Rene Perez

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

1100 W. 49th St., Austin, Texas 78756

Mail Code 2020 email: rene.perez03@hhs.texas.gov https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/gv/htm/gv.2155.htm https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/gv/htm/gv.2155.htm https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/vendor-contract-information/vendor-interaction-policy.pdf https://hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/vendor-contract-information/vendor-interaction-policy.pdf https://www.txsmartbuy.gov/esbd https://www.txsmartbuy.gov/esbd mailto:rene.perez03@hhs.texas.gov

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All communications relating to this RFI are to be directed to the HHSC contact person named above. All communications between respondents and other HHSC staff members concerning this RFI are strictly prohibited.

5.4 Response Format

Please respond in the following format:

a. clearly legible;

b. searchable pdf format;

c. sequentially page-numbered and include the respondent’s name at the top of page;

d. correctly identified with the RFI number;

e. preferably in Times New Roman font, size 12 for normal text, no less than size 10 for tables, graphs and appendices;

f. the page limit for the RFI written response is 20 pages, this does NOT include attachments and/or reference material;

g. responses are to be received via email.

HHSC will not accept any submission or portion of a submission containing a copyright.

Response may include the RFI title consistently in either the footer or header of each page. Respondents may submit supporting material, if any, as attachments along with RFI responses. All proposals become the property of HHSC after submission.

5.5 Texas Public Information Act

A response submitted to this RFI is subject to the Texas Public Information Act (the Act), located in Texas Government Code Chapter 552 and may be disclosed to the public upon request. Subject to the Act, respondents may protect trade secret and confidential information from public release. If the respondent asserts that information provided in the proposal contains trade secrets or other confidential information, it must be clearly marked such information in boldface type and include the words “confidential” or “trade secret” at top of the page. Furthermore, the respondent must identify trade secret or confidential information and provide an explanation of why the information is excepted from public disclosure, on the Respondent Information and Disclosures form.

HHSC will process any request from a member of the public in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Act. Respondents may consult the Texas https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/GV/htm/GV.552.htm

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Attorney General’s website (www.oag.state.tx.us) for information concerning the Act’s application to documents submitted to public agencies and potential exceptions to disclosure.

5.6 Disclaimers

HHSC, at its sole discretion, may or may not issue a related solicitation or may issue multiple solicitations based on the responses to this RFI.

Responding to this RFI is not a condition for eligibility to respond to any subsequent solicitation. Responses to this RFI will not have any bearing, positive or negative, on the evaluation and respondent selection resulting from any proposals that may be received in response to any subsequent solicitation.

Any information received from respondents to the RFI in any form may be used by HHSC without restriction for any purpose determined by HHSC.

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/