Baby and Mother Bonding Initiative (BAMBI) Program

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is soliciting proposals for the Baby and Mother Bonding Initiative (BAMBI) Program, a specialized residential facility service for pregnant inmates and new mothers who will maintain custody of their infants. The procurement seeks a contractor to operate a facility located within 65 miles of Hospital Galveston, Young Medical Facility Complex, and Plane State Jail, with services spanning two program phases: prenatal care and post-delivery residential support. The contract will have a six-month base period from March 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026, with potential renewals for four additional one-year periods. Proposing organizations must provide comprehensive services including 20 hours of weekly treatment programming, individual counseling, recovery activities, parenting education, medical care access, life skills development, and transitional planning. Minimum qualifications include two years of experience managing similar residential facilities, ability to obtain required insurance, and capability to commence operations without TDCJ financial assistance. The proposal evaluation will be weighted across multiple criteria: cost (50%), programs and services (34%), site suitability (9%), experience (3%), past performance (3%), and financial strength (1%). The proposal deadline is October 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CT, with a service commencement date of March 1, 2026.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Subcontracting Plan with a 26.0% participation goal for professional services contracts, emphasizing vendor diversity and opportunities for economically disadvantaged businesses. Contractors must demonstrate good faith efforts in subcontracting with Texas certified HUB vendors, including detailed reporting on subcontracting intentions and monthly compliance documentation. The contract will be structured as a fixed-price arrangement with a sliding scale pricing mechanism based on the number of beds (13-22) and whether inmates are pre-delivery or post-delivery. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive requirements suggest a substantial investment in supporting incarcerated mothers and their infants. The program requires contractors to establish policies for serving inmates with co-occurring disorders, mental impairments, and physical disabilities, and provide culturally sensitive, gender-specific programming. Contractors must also coordinate with community-based organizations and report any instances of inmate abuse, neglect, or non-compliance to TDCJ. The solicitation prioritizes a holistic, supportive approach to managing this specialized correctional residential program.