30-25095-DSS Breast Feeding Hotline

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive, statewide breastfeeding support hotline and textline service through RFP 30-25095-DSS. The procurement seeks a vendor to operate a 24/7 centralized support system providing professional lactation consultations via phone and text messaging across North Carolina. Vendor requirements include employing at least one International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) available around the clock, with additional Certified Lactation Counselors (CLCs) staffing the service. The hotline must offer multi-language interpretive services in Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Hmong, and Creole, and ensure accessibility for hearing-impaired users. Key deliverables include providing consistent breastfeeding support, facilitating referrals to local resources like the NC Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, and maintaining detailed tracking and reporting of call data, demographics, and outcomes. Critical procurement dates include written questions due by January 17, 2025, vendor responses by January 24, 2025, and proposal submissions due February 28, 2025, with an anticipated contract award on May 9, 2025.

The contract is structured as a two-year agreement with three optional one-year renewal periods and represents an indefinite quantity agency-specific procurement with no guaranteed minimum call/text volume. While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned, the vendor must maintain comprehensive commercial insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, general liability (minimum $2 million), and automobile liability. The current program receives approximately 400 calls monthly, suggesting potential service volume expectations. Monthly payments will be processed on Net 30 terms following deliverable acceptance. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which includes restrictions on marketing practices and promotional activities. Though a specific budget range was not disclosed, interested vendors should be prepared to develop a cost-effective solution that meets the state's comprehensive breastfeeding support objectives while maintaining high-quality, accessible professional lactation consultation services.