RFI___24-25068_Diaper_Access_Initiative.pdf

Request for Information (RFI)

RFI No. 24-25068 Diaper Access Initiative: A Golden State Start

Date: April 17, 2025

To: All Interested Entities

From: California Health and Human Services Agency, California Department of Health Care Access and Information

Subject: Partnership for Improving Diaper Access

Purpose of the Request for Information

The State of California, through the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), is requesting preliminary information concerning potential partnerships in support of the California Diaper Access Initiative proposed in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Governor’s Budget. The Diaper Access Initiative and resulting Golden State Start Program will provide essential products to California's families to improve maternal and newborn public health outcomes. This initiative will identify a supplier to manufacture and distribute three months1 of free diapers to every baby born in California, regardless of income.

This RFI seeks to gather preliminary information from diaper manufacturers to evaluate their products, practices, and capabilities to align with California’s goals of affordability, environmental sustainability, and quality. The responses will help us assess potential partnerships for expanding consumer access to high-quality, affordable diapers.

Respondents should read this Request for Information (RFI) document thoroughly and adhere to the response submission guidelines.

Background Almost half a million babies are born in the state of California each year and families spend on average, around $1,000 per year per baby on diapers.2 Diaper prices increased by 45% during the pandemic and have remained high despite supply chain recovery and decreased cost of materials.3 Almost half of U.S. families reported difficulty affording diapers and reducing other expenditures to afford diapers, with a quarter of families saying they

1 Approximately 400 diapers 2 https://www.totalcareaba.com/statistics/diaper-facts?

3 https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/parents-struggle-afford-basic-baby-needs-diaper-prices-rise?

https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NDBN-Diaper-Check-2023_Executive-Summary-FINAL.pdf

California Diaper Access Initiative Request for Information (RFI) skipped meals to afford more diapers.4 When families cannot afford diapers, they may delay changing or reuse soiled diapers, increasing health risks.

It appears there is not a consistent, reliable, low- or no-cost option that is broadly available for Californians to obtain diapers. For publicly funded programs, the federally funded Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits do not currently cover diaper purchases. While diapers can sometimes be found at food banks, their availability is inconsistent. Some regions operate diaper banks, but there is uneven coverage across all counties and regions in the state.

The goal of this initiative is to improve access to affordable or free diapers, helping families meet their needs without sacrificing other essentials. It also addresses economic and social factors that affect families, particularly during the early months after welcoming a new baby. This program aims to support families during this transitional period, promoting greater household stability.

Key Action Dates

• Release of RFI: Thursday, April 17, 2025

• Question deadline: Thursday, May 8, 2025

• RFI Responses Due: Thursday, May 15, 2025

Response Instructions

• Please review and respond to the questions in Attachment A.

• Email responses to diapers@hcai.ca.gov no later than May 15, 2025

• Indicate Response for RFI # 24-25068 in the Subject Line.

• Include the following information in the response or in the email: Primary contact name and title, telephone number, and email address.

RFI Responses Assumed to be Public Records Please be aware that all documents submitted to in response to this RFI may be subject to public release under the California Public Records Act.

If you intend to disclose nonpublic information under this RFI and wish to request that it remain confidential, please separate nonpublic documents from your other materials, clearly label the documents confidential, and state the reason for the confidentiality. The State of California will endeavor to maintain such nonpublic information confidential, consistent with applicable law.

4 https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check/ mailto:diapers@hcai.ca.gov

RFI Disclaimers and General Information

Not a Solicitation: This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. A response to this RFI is not an offer and cannot be accepted by the Department of Health Care Access and Information to form a binding contract.

Respondents are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

HCAI asks willing respondents to share non-binding budgetary pricing information. Pricing is only for planning purposes. Any pricing provided in a response to this RFI will not be considered a proposal/bid on the part of the respondent.

Effect of Submitting a Response: HCAI may follow up with any respondents that submit a RFI for the purposes of further discussions or for the purposes of entering into a negotiated agreement. However, submitting a response to this RFI will not enhance the review of that respondent’s proposal(s) to any future opportunities. HCAI anticipates there will be multiple respondents and HCAI may have discussions with one or more respondents. Not submitting a response to this RFI will not prohibit a response to any future opportunities, nor disadvantage the evaluation of a response to any future opportunities.

Attachment A: RFI Questions Response Instructions:

Respondents should feel free to add or reply differently to Attachment A as they see fit based on their unique circumstances, expertise, and experiences. Respondents do not have to answer all the questions in this attachment and the questions may be used to frame or provide guidance to a response. HCAI is interested in different perspectives and views on how the Diaper Access Initiative should be implemented.

1. Organization and Market Overview

a. Please provide a brief overview of your organization, including its history, mission, and primary product lines.

b. Has your organization faced any legal/regulatory challenges in the past 5 years?

c. From your perspective, does the market for diapers function appropriately to deliver affordable, accessible diapers to families? What role does your organization play in the diaper market?

2. Product Portfolio and Specifications

a. What diaper products does your organization manufacture or procure? Please include product categories (e.g., disposable, biodegradable, reusable), size ranges, and any specialty products (e.g., night diapers, training pants).

b. What are the unique features of your diapers (e.g., materials, absorbency rates, hypoallergenic status, leak protection, fit, size options, design, packaging)?

c. Where are your diapers manufactured? Where do you obtain your raw materials used in your diapers (i.e., absorbent core materials, nonwoven fabric if any)?

d. California’s goal is to distribute 40 million diapers in 2025-26, and 80 million diapers in 2026-27. What is your production capacity, and to what degree can it scale to meet increased demand, if required?

3. Quality Control, Compliance, and Customer Support Service

a. What quality control measures do you have in place for your diaper products, and what metrics do you track?

b. Are your diapers dermatologically tested or certified for safety by any recognized standards or organizations?

c. Have you had any product recalls in the past 5 years? If so, how were they handled?

4. Affordability

a. What is the per-unit cost structure for providing diapers at scale to the State of

California? Please include bulk pricing tiers and any potential cost-saving measures that could be explored through partnership.

b. Do you offer discounts or bulk pricing for government or nonprofit programs?

c. Do you have programs or partnerships aimed at supporting families in need or underserved communities? Would you be able to scale up further to meet demand from California’s Diaper Bank Network (64M diapers a year)?

5. Distribution

a. What are your distribution capabilities? Please include details about supply chain logistics and retail partnerships.

b. How do you handle disruptions in your supply chain? Do you have strategies for ensuring consistent supply during emergencies?

c. How would you propose to distribute 400 diapers to every baby born in

California? Would families be able to choose between different size options, or would only one size be offered?

d. If your distribution plan involves hospitals or other health care entities, how would you ensure participation? How would you support hospitals during onboarding and implementation?

e. Would hospitals require storage capabilities to participate? Are there alternative effective distributors or distribution models that should be considered?

6. Environmental Impact

a. What percentage of your product line is biodegradable or made from sustainable

(or recycled) materials?

b. Do you have a roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality or programs to minimize environmental waste?

c. How do you measure and report on your environmental impact?

7. Newborn Supply Kit [optional]

a. If this project expanded to include diapers as part of a newborn supply kit or baby box, would your organization be interested in participating? What items would be included in a newborn supply kit, and what would a kit cost per unit?

8. Future Operations [optional]

a. Does your organization have future plans to bring down the cost of diapers for

Californian families?

b. If the State were to develop a partnership to bring down the cost of diapers available in a retail setting, would your organization be interested in participating? If so, please provide the following details:

i. Operational and distributional flow of products to maintain low costs

ii. Timeline of availability in retail settings

iii. Needed investment or support from the State