Response to Offeror Questions Document Summary

This Response to Offeror Questions document is issued by the South Dakota Department of Health for the Doula Workforce Advancement Program (RFP #26-09RHT-014), a Rural Health Transformation initiative component. The program seeks to fund organizations that will grow and diversify the doula workforce, provide training and certification assistance, and integrate doulas into existing maternity care teams with emphasis on rural, frontier, tribal, and underserved communities. A Letter of Intent is due by March 13, 2026, with complete proposals required by April 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM CDT. The anticipated award decision date is May 15, 2026, with contract negotiation to follow. The initial contract period runs from June 1, 2026 through October 30, 2027 (17 months), with options for three additional one-year renewals at the State's discretion. Multiple awards will be made based on technical merit ranking, with the State reserving the right to negotiate with successive offerors.

Cost proposals must include detailed budget allocations for personnel (salary and fringe benefits), supplies, travel, training, technology, and other direct costs, with indirect costs capped at 6.3% of the total contract amount. All costs related to service provision must be included in proposals. The budget structure anticipates similar funding through budget periods one through three, with tapering in periods four and five; however, future budget period funding amounts have not yet been awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services through the Rural Health Transformation Project. Applicants may propose financially scalable initiatives as awards may be less than the maximum amount requested. No set-aside designations, restrictions on organizational types, or incumbent vendors are identified, though experience and established relationships in rural, frontier, tribal, and underserved communities are strongly preferred. All inquiries must be submitted to Shelby Kommes at Shelby.Kommes@state.sd.us with subject line "RFP # 26-09RHT-014" prior to the deadline specified in the Schedule of Activities.