Armed Security Guard Service for Region 3

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for Armed Security Guard Service for Region 3, covering multiple jurisdictions including Tarrant County and Fort Worth City. The solicitation seeks licensed and qualified security guard companies to provide on-site uniformed unarmed, uniformed armed, and armed plain-clothed security guards and dedicated patrol services at HHSC facilities throughout Region 3. Security personnel must possess appropriate Texas Department of Public Safety licenses, undergo comprehensive background checks, and meet specific experience requirements, including a minimum of one year field experience for unarmed guards and two years for armed guards. The contract will run from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, with no automatic renewals, though HHSC reserves the right to extend the term up to one additional year. Key procurement dates include an IFB posting on August 5, 2025, an HSP training webinar on August 8, 2025, a questions deadline of August 11, 2025, and responses due on August 26, 2025, at 10:30 AM Central Time. Bidders must submit comprehensive documentation, including HHS Solicitation Affirmations, pricing sheets, reference forms, and a detailed HUB Subcontracting Plan, with failure to submit any required documents resulting in disqualification.

The procurement includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting goal of 26%, with contractors required to demonstrate good-faith efforts to include HUB subcontractors through various compliance methods. Contractors must maintain extensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, general liability ($1 million per occurrence), commercial automobile liability ($1 million), professional liability ($1 million), and umbrella liability ($1 million). The historical spend for similar services was $2.6 million for the period September 2022 through August 2025, though HHSC provides no guarantee of volume or compensation. Potential bidders must comply with numerous state and federal regulations, including cybersecurity training, E-Verify requirements, and various certification standards. Contractors will be subject to comprehensive data and system security requirements, including mandatory security patches, multi-factor authentication, and annual security audits. Background checks are required for all personnel, with annual renewals and strict confidentiality requirements for accessing DFPS information and facilities.