ESBD_539626_1784328351082_IC-RFP-2026-003 - Lab and Specimen.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP No: IC-RFP-2026-003 for

COMPREHENSIVE LABORATORY TESTING AND

SPECIMEN COLLECTION SERVICES

Issue Date: July 17, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF INTEGRAL CARE

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

PURPOSE

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

ESTIMATED LABORATORY TESTING VOLUME

MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONDITIONS

SELECTION OF SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES

I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSER

II. SERVICES

III. RAPID TESTING AND TURNAROUND TIMES

IV. ON-SITE PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES

V. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

VI. ACCESS TO CARE SOLUTIONS

VII. PRICING AND IMPLEMENTATION

VIII. OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

ATTACHMENT A

ATTACHMENT B

ATTACHMENT C

ATTACHMENT D – PRICING SCHEDULE

ATTACHMENT E – TESTING VOLUMES

DESCRIPTION OF INTEGRAL CARE

Integral Care provides community-based behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disabilities services in Travis County, Texas. Integral Care began providing services in

1967. Integral Care is a community center under Chapter 534 of the Texas Health and

Safety Code, and is classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Integral Care is an agency of the State, a unit of local government and is governed by a ten-member Board of Trustees (“Board”), nine of whom are appointed to two-year staggered terms by the City Council of the City of Austin, the Travis County

Commissioners Court, and the Board of Managers of the Travis County Healthcare District dba Central Health. The Travis County Sheriff serves as a statutorily appointed ex-officio member of the Board. Integral Care’s Key Persons List is included as Attachment A.

Integral Care is the local mental health authority and the local intellectual and developmental disability authority for Travis County, Texas, and currently employs approximately 1,100 full-time, part-time and relief employees, and operates approximately

46 business locations of varying types (e.g., office, clinic, residential) throughout the

Austin/Travis County area.

As a community-based behavioral health provider and safety-net organization, Integral

Care delivers services across outpatient clinics, crisis programs, residential treatment settings, and community outreach programs. Integral Care operates several 24/7 crisis programs including, but not limited to, Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) and the

Judge Guy Herman Center for Mental Health Crisis Care, which serve individuals experiencing acute behavioral health crises.

These programs frequently serve medically complex individuals who require rapid evaluation, stabilization, and immediate access to treatment services. Laboratory testing plays a critical role in enabling safe treatment decisions, determining program eligibility, and supporting stabilization for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Integral Care’s Board and leadership are committed to conducting its activities in accordance with federal, state and local laws and regulations related to:

• Non-discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, genetic information and veteran status.

• Providing employment and access to its services irrespective of disability.

• Providing equal pay without discrimination with respect to sex.

For more information, please see Integral Care’s Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2026-28 Strategic Plan, and the United States Department of Health and

Human Services National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services

(CLAS) Standards.

https://integralcare.org/en/fy24-annual-report/ https://integralcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/251016-Integral-Care-Strategic-Plan-Report.pdf https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/clas/standards https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/clas/standards

PURPOSE

Integral Care is seeking qualified laboratory service providers to deliver comprehensive laboratory testing services and on-site phlebotomy support for patients receiving behavioral health services. The RFP issued in accordance with applicable federal and state procurement requirements, including oversight requirements associated with federally funded healthcare programs and Officer of Inspector General (OIG) guidance.

Integral Care clinical programs require laboratory testing to support behavioral health treatment and medical monitoring. Internal laboratory data reflects more than 5,500 laboratory tests ordered over a nine-month period, Integral Care seeks a laboratory services provider that can support both routine outpatient monitoring and rapid testing requirements for crisis and stabilization programs operating 24 hours per day.

The Successful Proposer(s) (defined below) will become a strategic collaborator supporting

Integral Care’s mission to improve health outcomes, expand treatment access, and support crisis stabilization services for individuals in Travis County.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Integral Care seeks a qualified laboratory services provider to deliver comprehensive clinical laboratory testing and on‑site specimen collection services that support Integral

Care’s mission to expand access to care, improve client outcomes, and promote stabilization for individuals receiving behavioral health services across the community, as more particularly described in this RFP (collectively, the “Services”). The selected vendor will provide timely, reliable laboratory testing that supports diagnostic evaluation, medication management, crisis stabilization, and ongoing treatment across all Integral Care programs.

Required laboratory services include, but are not limited to:

• Routine blood panels and general laboratory diagnostics

• Medication monitoring related to psychotropic medications

• Metabolic monitoring

• Hematology testing

• Endocrine screening

• Infectious disease testing

• Urine testing and urinalysis

• Toxicology screening

• Drug testing for substance use treatment programs

• Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing

• HIV and Hepatitis screening

• Tuberculosis (TB) testing

• Other laboratory diagnostics necessary to support behavioral health treatment and clinical decision‑making

Based on historical testing data, the most frequently ordered laboratory tests include:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• Hemoglobin A1C testing

• Lipid panels

• Comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP)

• Thyroid testing (TSH/Free T4)

• Therapeutic drug monitoring (Lithium, Valproic Acid, Clozapine)

• Urine toxicology screening panels

• Infectious disease screening (HIV, Hepatitis)

Proposers (defined below) should demonstrate strong operational capability supporting these high-volume tests.

Integral Care seeks laboratory services that support routine testing turnaround times and offer flexibility for expedited processing when clinically indicated. Proposers should describe available stat, rapid, or other expedited testing options and associated turnaround times, if applicable

ESTIMATED LABORATORY TESTING VOLUME

Based on internal screening data, Integral Care clinicians ordered approximately 6,744 laboratory tests over a six-month period, averaging approximately 1124 tests per month.

Testing demand is expected to continue to increase as Integral Care expands crisis services, outpatient programs, and integrated behavioral health care delivery.

Proposers should outline how their proposed services can support:

• High-volume outpatient laboratory testing

• Behavioral health medication monitoring

• Rapid testing for crisis stabilization programs

• Scalable testing capacity as service demand grows

MISSION ALIGNMENT STATEMENT

Integral Care serves as the Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) for Travis County, providing behavioral health and developmental disability services to individuals across a network of clinics, crisis programs, and community-based treatment settings. Integral Care’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves by providing accessible, high-quality behavioral healthcare to individuals experiencing mental illness, substance use disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Integral Care operates multiple crisis response programs, including Psychiatric Emergency

Services (PES) and the Judge Guy Herman Center, which provide 24/7 care for individuals experiencing acute behavioral health crises. Laboratory testing is an important component of clinical assessment, supporting determinations of medical stability, medication safety, and timely admission into treatment programs. Rapid access to laboratory results enables clinicians to make informed stabilization and treatment decisions in crisis settings.

Integral Care seeks a laboratory provider that shares its commitment to improving access to care for vulnerable populations. The selected vendor will play an important role in helping

Integral Care reduce barriers to treatment, expand program participation, and support improved health outcomes for individuals experiencing some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

Clients receiving laboratory services typically present with multiple co-occurring conditions, with a median of four diagnosed conditions per individual. Common diagnoses include bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, trauma-related disorders, and substance use disorders.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Integral Care anticipates awarding one (1) two-year contract with 2 (1) year optional renewals for the Services commencing on approximately October 30, 2026 (each, a

“Contract”). Integral Care may award separate Contracts for each component of the

Services or may award a single Contract for the entirety of the Services. Any Contract awarded as a result of this RFP will be prepared by Integral Care, and any Proposer selected for a Contract award may be referred to herein as a “Successful Proposer”.

Proposals shall be delivered via electronic mail attachment to:

Integral Care

Attn: Christina Lundy, Director of Procurement procurement@integralcare.org

Subject Line: IC-RFP-2026-003 [Proposer Legal Name] - Proposal by any agent or representative designated by the person or entity submitting the Proposal

(“Proposer”). Integral Care will determine the official time of receipt of each Proposal using the time/date of receipt of the Proposal shown by Integral Care’s email server. Upon

Proposals shall be submitted no later than August 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM CDT

(Proposal Submission Deadline) mailto:procurement@integralcare.org request, a receipt shall be sent via electronic mail to the deliverer of the Proposal, which indicates the date and time it was received.

Proposals must include:

(1) One (1) searchable PDF containing the full narrative response and required attachments; and,

(2) One (1) Excel pricing file using Attachment D

Any questions concerning the specifications for the Services or RFP process shall be directed to Christina Lundy, Director of Procurement, by electronic mail to procurement@integralcare.org no later than July 27, 2026 at 5:00 PM CST

(“Question Submission Deadline”). All questions with respect to either the specifications for the Services or RFP process that are received by the Question Submission Deadline will be available, along with Integral Care’s responses, on the Texas Electronic State

Business Daily website where the RFP is posted and on Integral Care’s website

(www.integralcare.org).

CONDITIONS

ACCEPTANCE/REJECTION OF PROPOSALS: Integral Care reserves the right to accept or reject any and/or all Proposals, to waive informalities or defects in Proposals, or to accept such Proposal(s) as it shall deem to be of the best value to Integral Care.

NEGOTIATION: Integral Care further reserves the right to negotiate with Proposers determined to have a reasonable chance of being selected. All such Proposers shall be afforded fair and equal treatment with respect to such negotiations, and no such Proposer shall be given information that would give that Proposer a competitive advantage over any other Proposer.

CANCELLATION: Integral Care may also choose to cancel the RFP without award.

VALIDATION: Integral Care may validate any information in a Proposal by using outside sources or materials. If validation discloses that information provided by a Proposer is deliberately false, the Proposal will be ineligible for consideration.

ADDENDA: Integral Care reserves the right to modify, interpret and correct the RFP, and any modifications, interpretations or corrections to the RFP and specifications shall be made by written addenda. Integral Care’s Director of Procurement, Christina Lundy,, shall have sole authority to authorize issuance of addenda to this RFP. Addenda shall be provided to all who are known to have received a copy of the RFP. All such addenda become, upon issuance, an inseparable part of the specifications that a Proposal must meet to be considered.

ALTERING PROPOSALS: Any corrections, deletions, or additions to Proposals must be made in writing and delivered by email to Integral Care’s Procurement Department at procurement@integralcare.org prior to the Proposal Submission Deadline. The Proposer shall submit substitute pages with an email documenting the changes and to which is attached the specific pages for substitution. The person who submits the email must have authority at least equal to that of the submitter of the Proposal.

WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSALS: A Proposal shall not be withdrawn or cancelled by the Proposer unless the Proposer submits an email to that effect prior to the Proposal

Submission Deadline. The submitter of the withdrawal email must have authority at least equal in authority to the submitter of the Proposal.

PUBLIC AVAILABILITY: Integral Care is subject to and complies with the Texas

Public Information Act, Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. All Proposals shall be open for public inspection after the RFP process is concluded, except for information contained in the Proposal that Proposer contends is covered by an exception to disclosure under the Texas Public Information Act that is in red ink and clearly identified by the Proposer as such. Such information may still be subject to disclosure under the Public Information Act and other applicable law including, without limitation, opinions from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

SUBMITTED PROPOSALS: Submitted Proposals become the property of Integral Care and will not be returned to the Proposer. Proposer agrees that Integral Care has the right to use, reproduce and distribute copies of and to disclose to Integral Care employees, trustees, agents and contractors and other governmental entities all or part of the Proposal, as

Integral Care deems appropriate.

SALES TAX: Integral Care is by statute exempt from payment of taxes applicable to the

Services described herein; therefore, Proposals shall not include taxes.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Integral Care will not enter into any Contract that purports to in any way limit the amount of damages it may recover under the Contract, and any such language included in a Contract will be void and of no effect.

SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER(S) MUST COMPLY with all applicable federal, state, county and local rules, codes, regulations, laws and standards. All Services must be in compliance with applicable federal, state, county and local rules, codes, regulations, laws, standards and executive orders as well as with all policies and procedures of Integral Care. A Contract may be subject to Texas Government Code Section 2252.908, which prohibits governmental entities such as Integral Care from entering into certain contracts with a business entity unless the business entity submits a disclosure of interested parties to the governmental entity or state agency at the time the business entity submits the signed contract to the governmental entity or state agency. By submitting a Proposal, Proposer agrees to fully comply with all applicable legal requirements including, without limitation, those of Texas Government Code Section 2252.908, as applicable.

EXCEPTION/SUBSTITUTIONS: All Proposals meeting the intent and requirements of this RFP shall be considered for award. Proposers taking exception to the specifications, terms and conditions or offering substitutions, shall state these exceptions clearly as a separately identifiable part of the Proposal entitled “Proposer’s Exceptions”. The absence of such a statement shall indicate that the Proposer has not taken exceptions and Integral

Care shall hold the resultant Proposer(s), if chosen as a Successful Proposer, responsible to perform in strict accordance with the specifications, terms, and conditions of this RFP and Successful Proposer’s Contract. Integral Care reserves the right to accept any and/or none of the exception(s)/substitution(s) as it determines to be in the best interest of Integral

Care. Proposer agrees that all exceptions to this RFP as well as terms and conditions advanced by Proposer that differ in any manner from Integral Care’s terms and conditions are rejected unless expressly accepted by Integral Care in writing in a fully executed

Contract.

SILENCE OF SPECIFICATIONS: The apparent silence of this RFP as to any detail or the apparent omission from it of a detailed description concerning any point shall be regarded as meaning that only best practices of quality services will prevail. All interpretations of this RFP shall be made on the basis of this statement.

LIMITATIONS: Any Proposer currently held in abeyance from or barred from the award of a federal or state contract may not contract with Integral Care.

CONSIDERATION: For a Proposal to be considered, the Proposer must meet Integral

Care’s requirements, demonstrate the ability to perform successfully and responsibly under the terms of the prospective Contract, and submit the completed Proposal according to the time frames, procedures, and forms stipulated by Integral Care. Additionally, Proposers shall, at a minimum, be currently licensed/certified, where applicable, to provide the

Services.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: No public official shall have an interest in any Contract, in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code Title 5, Subtitle C, Chapters 171 and

176.

ETHICS: Proposer shall not offer to or accept any gifts of value from, or enter into any business arrangement individually with, any employee, official or agent of Integral Care.

INDEMNIFICATION: Any Successful Proposer shall defend, indemnify, and save harmless Integral Care, and all of its trustees, officers, agents, and employees from all suits, actions, or other claims of any character, name and description (including, without limitation, any judgment cost awarded against and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by

Integral Care) brought for or on account of any losses, injuries or damages either allegedly or actually received or sustained by any entity, persons, or property as either a direct or indirect result of the actions or omissions of a Successful Proposer and/or its employees, contractors and agents, or of a Successful Proposer’s non-compliance with the Contract.

ASSIGNMENT: Successful Proposer shall not subcontract, sell, assign, transfer or convey its rights and/or obligations with respect to any Contract, in whole or in part, without

Integral Care’s prior written consent.

INSURANCE: Successful Proposer(s) shall maintain, at all times during its performance under the Contract, insurance coverage in not less than the following amounts per policy year:

Professional Liability: One million dollars ($1,000,000) per claim; and

Three million dollars ($3,000,000) aggregate of all claims.

General Liability: Two million dollars ($2,000,000) per claim; and

Three million dollars ($3,000,000) aggregate of all claims.

General Liability policy shall also include a waiver of subrogation in favor of

Integral Care.

Automobile Liability: If a Successful Proposer-owned vehicle is used in the provision of Services, Successful Proposer must maintain automobile liability insurance coverage in the amount of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit, with hired and non-owned coverage included; and

If a Successful Proposer’s employee’s personal vehicle is used in the provision of Services, Successful Proposer’s employee must maintain State of Texas required basic vehicle insurance coverage at all times.

Worker’s Compensation: Must meet statutory limits. Worker’s Compensation policies shall also include a waiver of subrogation in favor of

Employer Liability: One million dollars ($1,000,000) per accident; and

One million dollars ($1,000,000) per disease per employee;

One million dollars ($1,000,000) disease policy limit.

Cyber and Errors and Omissions Liability:

Must have a limit of $5,000,000.00, covering liabilities arising from a) product or service financial injury caused by a product or service defect or performance failure; b) technology-related injury caused by an errors or omissions and all series of continuous, repeated or related acts, errors or omissions; c) breach mitigation and notification expenses related to a privacy breach; d) and defense for liability from copyright infringement. Coverage also includes reasonable legal litigation expenses, and must list Integral Care as an additional insured. Cyber liability policy must explicitly cover ransomware, data exfiltration, and HIPAA or Texas privacy penalties.

and such other insurance coverage, each to the extent required and in such amounts as may be reasonably required by Integral Care or as may otherwise be required by applicable law.

A Successful Proposer is responsible for obtaining and maintaining any riders or other documents necessary to ensure that the coverage described above includes the

Services. A legally qualified insurance company acceptable to Integral Care must underwrite all insurance coverage listed above. Each policy evidencing such coverage shall name Integral Care as an additional insured on that policy (but specifically excluding policies of personal automobile liability), and shall contain a provision (to the extent legally permitted) that the insurance company shall give

Integral Care as a certificate holder thirty (30) days written notice in advance of (a) any cancellation or non-renewal of the policy, (b) any reduction in the policy amount, (c) any deletion of additional insureds, or (d) any other material modification of the policy. A Successful Proposer will name Integral Care as additional insured on each policy within 14 days of being awarded a Contract by

CRIMINAL AND BACKGROUND CHECKS: Successful Proposer must ensure that no person will provide Services under a Contract if that person has been convicted of any of the offenses listed in the Texas Health and Safety Code, Section 250.006(a).

ELIGIBLILITY TO WORK IN THE UNITED STATES: Successful Proposer shall ensure that each person who provides Services under a Contract is eligible to work in the United

States at the time he/she provides Services, and shall document such eligibility using

USCIS Form I-9 for all such persons and maintain such documentation for at least six (6) years after the Contract ends, and make such documentation available to Integral Care upon request.

SELECTION OF SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER

1) Selection of the Successful Proposer(s), if made, will be based upon demonstrated competence, knowledge, qualifications and reasonableness of the proposed fee, where applicable, for the Services as evidenced by any such Successful Proposer’s qualified Proposal.

2) writing or through an individual telephonic, electronic or in-person meeting(s) with each applicable Proposer after an initial review of all Proposals. The meeting(s), if necessary, will be held after the Proposal Submission Date, and no Proposer participating in any such meeting shall be given information that would give that

Proposer a competitive advantage over any other Proposer.

3) A selection(s), if made, will be based on the Proposal(s) that provides best value to

4) Integral Care reserves the right to enter into multiple Contracts with respect to the provision of the Services.

5) Proposals will be scored by the point system listed in the table below:

SCORING CRITERIA Points

Signed Attachment C “Assurances Document” Pass/Fail

Service Capabilities Up to 25 points

Turnaround Time & Rapid Testing Up to 15 points

On-site Phlebotomy Model Up to 10 points

Technology Integration Up to 15 points

Access to Care Solutions Up to 10 points

Pricing and Financial Model Up to 10 points

Vendor Experience Up to 10 points

Implementation and Operational Support Up to 5 points

TOTAL POSSIBLE SCORE: 100 Points

The Operational Response Plan will be evaluated as part of the Service Capabilities, Rapid Testing, Access to Care, and Implementation criteria.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE

1) A Successful Proposer’s Services will be of a standard quality and level of professionalism expected of those businesses engaged in the delivery of similar services. The methods and means employed in the delivery of the Services must be of a standard that will withstand both public and private scrutiny, and be in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, regulations and ordinances as may be amended from time to time including, but not limited to, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).

2) A Successful Proposer will ensure that no person, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic characteristics, age, disability, or veteran status will be excluded from participation in providing, or be denied the benefits of, the Services, or be subject to discrimination under any of the policies of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission or its related agencies (collectively, “HHSC”) or of Integral Care.

3) Integral Care reserves the right to retain all performance by a Successful Proposer, and to recover all consideration paid to any Successful Proposer pursuant to a

Contract thus permitting forfeiture of such Contract, in the event that such Successful

Proposer (a) was doing business at the time of submitting the Proposal or had done business during the 365 day period immediately prior to the date on which the

Proposal was due with an undisclosed key person, (b) does business with a key person after the date on which the Proposal is due and prior to full performance of the

Contract and fails to disclose the name of any such key person in writing to Integral

Care prior to commencing business with such key person, or (c) fails to submit a completed Form CIQ (see Attachment B) if required to do so by Chapter 176 of the

Texas Local Government Code. A Key Persons List is attached to this RFP as

Attachment A.

4) A Successful Proposer shall furnish the Services in a prompt, efficient, and professional manner. If a Successful Proposer does not provide the Services within the Contract requirements, Integral Care reserves the right to solicit and/or procure any or all such Services outside the Contract and/or terminate the Contract.

5) Unless stated otherwise in this RFP, a Successful Proposer will provide at its sole cost all necessary supplies, equipment, software, technology support and other items in order to furnish the Services properly as defined in the Contract.

6) Any Contract may be terminated without penalty for any reason or without cause by

Integral Care by submission of written notice of at least fifteen (15) days.

7) A Successful Proposer must have and maintain at all times during the existence of any Contract any and all required federal, state, and/or local licenses, permits and/or permissions with respect to the Services covered by the Contract.

8) A Successful Proposer will comply with Section 2155.4441 of the Texas Government

Code, which requires that products and materials used to provide the Services be produced in the State of Texas when available at a price and time comparable to products and materials produced outside of Texas.

9) Any Contract may be prepared by Integral Care at its sole election, and may contain provisions that are not described in this RFP.

10) Successful Proposer(s) will verify eligibility to work in the United States using

USCIS Form I-9 for all employees who will provide Services.

11) E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of individuals to work in the United States. Integral Care requires proof of

US citizenship or other authorization required by law to legally work in the United

States for all employees who will provide Services. Successful Proposer is required to submit I-9 verification information through the E-Verify system on each new employee who will provide Services under the Contract. For more information or to enroll with E-Verify go to: www.uscis.gov/e-verify.

PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES

http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

To facilitate the evaluation of Proposals, Proposers must prepare their responses to Sections

I – VII below in the format and sequence specified below. Respond specifically to each question posed. Do not simply make a general reference to any other document included with the Proposal. General references to brochures, websites, or other materials will not be accepted as a substitute for clear responses.

Failure to comply with this requirement could result in the Proposal being rejected by Integral Care in its sole discretion.

Proposer may attach additional materials as necessary to provide supporting information and details. Catalogs or brochures about Proposer’s products or services may be included as an addendum to the Proposal but not in place of specific responses to each item below.

If the question does not apply to either Proposer or the Proposal, clearly mark “N/A”.

Responses will be evaluated in accordance with the Evaluation Criteria outlined in this

RFP, including:

• Service Capabilities

• Turnaround Time and Rapid Testing

• On-Site Phlebotomy Model

• Technology Integration

• Access to Care Solutions

• Pricing and Financial Model

• Vendor Experience

• Implementation and Operational Support

I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PROPOSER

A. Each Proposal MUST be accompanied by a signed, original Assurances

Document and, if required, a Form CIQ (Attachment C).

B. Each Proposer MUST also respond to each of the following items completely by restating each item/question exactly as written and then providing a response.

i. Provide the name, legal status (e.g. sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, etc.), address and contact telephone number of Proposer.

Provide the name of all persons owning a 5% or more interest in Proposer’s business.

ii. Attach a copy of Provider’s Articles of Incorporation and 501(c) (3) certificate, or other bylaws/governing documents as applicable. Label as

Exhibit 1.B.ii.

iii. Provide a brief history and description of Proposer. The description should include years in operation, the number of employees overall and by location, number of laboratory locations, locations of laboratories, any areas of specialization (e.g., toxicology, infectious disease testing, crisis healthcare support), how many years Proposer has been in business in the State of

Texas, and experience supporting behavioral health providers, community health systems, or safety-net healthcare organizations.

iv. Attach a copy of the organizational chart, including names, titles and vacant positions, clearly indicating who will be the main point of contact with respect to any Contract and account manager. Label as Exhibit 1.B.iv.

v. Provide copies of any and all of Proposer’s required federal, state, and/or local licenses and/or certifications required with respect to the Services.

Licenses or certifications includes, but is not limited to the following: CLIA certification, any state-issued licenses, certifications or other approvals, and/or relevant accreditations. Label as Exhibit 1.B.v.

vi. Provide the organization names, email, telephone numbers, addresses and individual contact names of at least three (3) business references for whom

Proposer provides or has provided services in Travis County, Texas that are similar to the Services. Include a brief description of services provided, and length of engagement with each business reference.

C. Has the Proposer received certification as a VetHUB? Attach a copy of any current

VetHUB certificate to this Proposal, and label as Exhibit I.C. [THIS ITEM IS NOT

AWARDED SCORING POINTS].

II. SERVICES

Proposers must describe their ability to provide the full scope of Services required by

A. Describe the range of laboratory testing services available through the Proposer’s organization, including but not limited to:

• Blood testing

• Medication monitoring

• Urinalysis

• Toxicology screening

• Drug testing for substance use programs

• STI testing

• HIV testing

• Hepatitis testing

• Tuberculosis (TB) testing

• Infectious disease testing

• Behavioral health medication monitoring

B. Describe the laboratory testing capabilities most relevant to behavioral health systems, including toxicology testing, medication monitoring, and infectious disease screening.

C. Describe any specialized laboratory capabilities or services that differentiate the

Proposer from other laboratory providers.

III. RAPID TESTING AND TURNAROUND TIMES

Integral Care operates 24/7 crisis services and relies on timely laboratory testing to support clinical assessment, patient stabilization, and treatment admission decisions. While certain point-of-care screening tests (e.g., urine pregnancy testing and preliminary substance use screening) are performed on site, external laboratory services are used to support confirmatory testing, broader diagnostic evaluation, and ongoing clinical decision-making.

Laboratory testing commonly utilized in crisis and admission workflows may include, but is not limited to:

• CBC and CMP panels

• Confirmatory toxicology and substance use testing

• Pregnancy testing (confirmatory, as applicable)

• Selected infectious disease screening, based on clinical presentation and program needs (e.g., tuberculosis)

• Medication monitoring for psychotropic medications

Proposers should describe average turnaround times for both routine testing and STAT testing for these categories.

A. Describe the Proposer’s standard laboratory turnaround times for common tests.

B. Describe the Proposer’s STAT or expedited testing capabilities, including:

• Metabolic Panels (BMP, CMP)

• CBCs

C. Describe how the Proposer ensures rapid result delivery for crisis environments including, if applicable, after-hours testing.

D. Provide any service level guarantees or performance metrics related to turnaround times

IV. ON-SITE PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES

A. Describe the Proposer’s ability to provide on-site phlebotomy services at Integral

Care clinical locations.

B. Describe the proposed staffing model, including:

• Number of phlebotomists

• Scheduling model

• Coverage hours

• Training and credential requirements

C. Describe the Proposer’s ability to scale on-site services if Integral Care expands clinic operations or testing volumes.

D. Describe the Proposer’s experience supporting high-volume outpatient clinics or crisis service environments

V. TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

A. Describe the Proposer’s experience integrating laboratory systems with Electronic

Health Record (EHR) platforms.

B. Describe the Proposer’s ability to support:

• Electronic laboratory ordering

• Secure electronic results reporting

• Automated clinical data exchange

C. Describe available integration standards (e.g., HL7, FHIR, APIs).

D. Describe the Proposer’s ability to support integration with administrative or billing platforms (such as Workday) if required.

VI. ACCESS TO CARE SOLUTIONS

Integral Care serves individuals who may face significant barriers to healthcare access, including transportation challenges and behavioral health crises.

A. Describe how the Proposer’s service model can help improve patient compliance with required laboratory testing.

B. Describe any innovative solutions that may improve testing accessibility including, but not limited to:

• On-site phlebotomy

• Mobile specimen collection

• Rapid testing solutions

• Simplified workflows for clinicians

C. Describe how the Proposer’s provision of the Services can support crisis stabilization programs and treatment admission requirements.

VII. PRICING AND IMPLEMENTATION

A. Pricing Structure

Provide a detailed pricing schedule including:

• Standard laboratory testing pricing

• Toxicology and drug screening pricing

• Infectious disease testing pricing

• STAT or expedited testing pricing

• On-site phlebotomy service costs

• Courier and specimen transport costs

• Implementation or onboarding costs

B. Billing Capabilities

Describe the Proposer’s ability to support:

• Private insurance billing

• Medicaid billing

• Medicare billing

• Discounted services for uninsured patients

• Patient assistance programs

C. Implementation Plan

Provide a proposed implementation timeline, including:

• Contract execution

• System integration

• Phlebotomy deployment

• Service launch

D. Account Management

Describe the Proposer’s operational support structure, including:

• Account management

• Client support services

• Issue escalation procedures

VIII. OPERATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

(Aligned with Evaluation Criteria: Service Capabilities, Rapid Testing, Implementation, and Access to Care)

Integral Care operates multiple programs that provide 24-hour crisis behavioral health services, including Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES) and the Judge Herman Center.

Many patients served by Integral Care may benefit from timely medical screening, infectious disease testing, toxicology testing, and medication level tests to inform clinical treatment decisions.

Proposers are encouraged to submit an Operational Response Plan describing how their organization can support elements of Integral Care’s clinical and crisis service environments relevant to their proposed service model.

Responses must address the following:

A. Crisis Service Support

Describe how the Proposer will support laboratory testing needs for 24/7 crisis services, including environments where patients may present with acute behavioral health conditions requiring rapid clinical evaluation.

Include:

• Availability of STAT testing

• Rapid toxicology screening capabilities

• Infectious disease screening for crisis admissions

• Procedures for urgent specimen processing

B. Rapid Turnaround Strategy

Describe the Proposer’s strategy for ensuring rapid laboratory result turnaround times, particularly for tests required to determine patient admission into treatment programs or stabilization services.

• Average turnaround times for common tests

• STAT testing turnaround times

• Processes used to prioritize urgent specimens

• Specimen transport timelines

C. On-Site Testing and Specimen Collection Strategy

Describe the Proposer’s strategy for providing on-site specimen collection services at Integral Care clinic locations.

• On-site phlebotomy staffing models

• Coverage hours

• Staffing scalability as testing volumes increases

• Workflow coordination with clinic staff

Proposers are encouraged to describe how their approach will help reduce patient barriers to testing, including transportation limitations and challenges associated with crisis environments.

D. Specimen Logistics and Transport

Describe how the Proposer will manage specimen transport logistics between

Integral Care clinic locations and the testing laboratory.

• Courier schedules

• Specimen tracking processes

• Chain-of-custody protocols when required

• Procedures for handling urgent specimens

Proposers should demonstrate the ability to support varied specimen transport models including:

• Daily specimen pickup from high-volume outpatient clinics

• STAT courier pickup for crisis programs

• Scheduled pickups for residential programs

• Flexible pickup models for lower-volume sites

E. Technology and Result Delivery

Describe how laboratory test results will be delivered to clinicians in a timely and secure manner, including:

• Integration with Netsmart’s MyAvatar

• Real-time electronic results delivery

• Alerts for critical or abnormal test results

• Support for integration with administrative systems if required

F. Scalability and Program Growth

Integral Care continues to expand its behavioral health and crisis response services.

Describe how the Proposer’s laboratory services model can scale to support increased patient volume, additional clinic locations, or expanded service lines.

G. Performance Monitoring

Describe the Proposer’s approach to service level monitoring and quality assurance, including:

• Turnaround time monitoring

• Service level agreements (SLAs)

• Reporting and performance metrics

• Continuous improvement processes

ATTACHMENT A

Key Persons List – November 25, 2025

NAME TITLE BUSINESS ADDRESS

Hassan Abdallah Human Resources Manager 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Kim Alderson Director of MIS 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Rene Alli Senior Accountant 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Aurora Amador Practice Administrator 6600 E Ben White Blvd., Austin, TX 78741

Tiana Anderson Licensed Psychologist 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Russell Bach, MD Associate Medical Director 5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Amanda Banks Chief Public Health Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701

Mesha Barnes Chief of Staff 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Matthew Beasley Director of Reimbursement 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Martin Blumberg Director of Learning and

Development

6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Marlene Buchanan Chief Programs Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Barbara Buie Director of Compensation and

Benefits

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Lesa Brown-Valades Director of Network

Development

5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Jessica Steeby Director of Grants 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Kathleen Casey Chief Strategy and Innovation

Officer

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

LaTanya Cash Client Rights Protection Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Sasha Church Medical Records

Director/Privacy Officer

6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Tom Cobb Financial Analyst 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Patricia Corrigan-

Strickland

Director of Pharmacy 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Jodie Eldridge Director of Resource

Development

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Pam Farrell Director of Utilization

Management

5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Stephanie Flores Director of OneData 700 Lavaca Street, Texas 78701

Rodney Guinn Chief Human Resources Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Julie Guirguis Practice Administrator 5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Brooke Hammond Director of

Operations/Compliance Officer

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Vaughn Hancock Practice Manager 5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Dawn Handley Vice President and Chief

Operations Officer

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Kali Holyfield Deputy Assistant Director of

Practice Management – Housing

3000 Oak Springs Dr., Austin, TX 78702

Andrea Jenssen Director of Resource and Safety 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Debra Joiner Director of Communications and

Engagement

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Amanda Robinson Credentialing Coordinator 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Matthew Kinman Operations and Maintenance

Project Manager

6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Kristi Kaiser Practice Administrator 5015 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78744

Sarah Kuykendall IDD Practice Manager 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Lisa Ott Laky General Counsel 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Dione Lewis Office Manager 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Christina Lundy Director of Procurement 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Marisa Malik Director of Practice

Management – Crisis and

Substance Use

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Ziyad Nuwayhid, MD Chief Medical Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Melody Palmer-Arizola Practice Administrator 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Jaime Parker Practice Manager 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Kedra Priest Practice Administrator 1165 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78721

Jeff Richardson Chief Executive Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Hans Riedel Director of Facilities 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Michelle Riffle Budget Analyst 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Scott Ruff Chief Administrative Officer and

Chief Technology Officer

6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Rusty Taylor Chief Financial Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Brian Nahas, MD Associate Medical Director 1165 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78721

Luis Torres Chief Accounting Officer 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Ruth Valencia RN Supervisor 1631 E. 2nd St., Bldg. A, Austin, TX 78702

Mark Watson Director of Accounting Services 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Brittany Whittington Director of Accountable Care

Systems

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Megan Wilber Quality Improvement Manager 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Teresa Williams Director of Clinical Services 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Lori Wilson Provider Network and Authority

Committee Chair

700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Ken Winston Director of Practice 6937 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752

Management - IDD

Arnold Zimmerman Health Informatics Coordinator 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, Texas 78701

Stephanie Bazan Board Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

H. Ed Calahan Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Emmitt Hayes Board Vice Chair P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Sally Hernandez Ex-Officio Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Hal Katz Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Ann Kitchen Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Lynn Shephard Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Kristen Ylana Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Patricia Young Brown Board Chair P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

Guadalupe Zamora, MD Board Member P.O. Box 3548, Austin, TX 78764-3548

ATTACHMENT B

SCOPE OF SERVICES - COMPREHENSIVE LABORATORY

TESTING & PHLEBOTOMY SERVICES

1. Laboratory Testing Services

The Successful Proposer(s) will provide comprehensive clinical laboratory testing services and specimen collection support for patients receiving behavioral health treatment across Integral Care programs.

Laboratory services are intended to support both routine clinical monitoring and urgent diagnostic needs in behavioral health and crisis care environments.

Required testing capabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Routine Laboratory Testing

• Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)

• Lipid Panels

• Hemoglobin A1C

• Thyroid testing and endocrine screening

• Other routine diagnostic laboratory tests

• Behavioral Health Medication Monitoring o Lithium level monitoring o Valproic Acid level monitoring o Clozapine monitoring

• Other medication monitoring as clinically required

• Urine Testing & Toxicology

• Drug testing for substance use treatment programs

• Chain-of-custody drug testing where required

• Infectious Disease Testing o Sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing o HIV screening o Hepatitis screening o Tuberculosis (TB) testing o Other infectious disease diagnostics as clinically appropriate

The Successful Proposer(s) will support standard laboratory testing turnaround times and may offer expedited testing services, as clinically appropriate.

2. Rapid Testing & Crisis Service Requirements

Integral Care operates multiple programs that provide 24 hours per day, 7 days per week crisis behavioral health services, including Psychiatric Emergency Services

(PES) and the Travis County Crisis Center.

Patients presenting in these environments may utilize laboratory testing to support assessment of medical stability, medication safety, and eligibility for admission into treatment programs.

The Services include rapid testing, including:

• STAT laboratory testing

• Rapid toxicology screening

• Rapid infectious disease screening

• Expedited laboratory result reporting

• Priority processing of urgent specimens

• Rapid turnaround times are essential to support:

• Crisis stabilization

• Clinical decision-making

• Admission into treatment programs

• Medication safety monitoring

3. On-Site Phlebotomy Services

Integral Care operates in multiple clinical and crisis service locations with varying specimen collection needs. The Services include on-site phlebotomy services at

Integral Care clinical locations designated by Integral Care in order to support patient access to laboratory testing.

Specimen collection will occur across:

• Outpatient clinics

• Crisis stabilization programs

• Residential treatment programs

• Substance use treatment programs

Provide qualified, trained phlebotomy personnel to deliver onsite phlebotomy services, at a minimum, at the following three (3) Integral Care clinical locations:

• St. John Clinic

• East 2nd Street Clinic

• Stonegate Clinic

Provide phlebotomy services at additional Integral Care locations upon request, in accordance with the terms and requirements of the Agreement

Phlebotomy services must include:

• Blood specimen collection

• Patient identification verification

• Proper specimen labeling and handling

• Infection control compliance

• Coordination with clinic staff

• Patient-centered service delivery

4. Access to Care Objectives

Integral Care serves individuals who may face barriers to accessing healthcare services, including transportation challenges, housing instability, and acute behavioral health needs. Access to laboratory testing plays an important role in supporting timely clinical assessment and continuity of care across programs.

Laboratory testing models that require patients to travel to external collection sites may introduce challenges such as delays in testing completion or missed follow-up, depending on individual circumstances.

Integral Care is seeking a Successful Proposer(s) that supports access to laboratory testing while allowing flexibility in service design. Proposed approaches should align with Integral Care service model and may include, where feasible:

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