DFPS Community-Based Care for Regions 9 and 10

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to seek community feedback on solutions for expanding the Community-Based Care (CBC) model into Regions 9 and 10 of the state. The CBC model, established by the Texas Legislature in 2017, transitions the state's foster care system to a more localized, community-focused approach by purchasing a continuum of care services, including case management and substitute care, from a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC). DFPS is gathering input to inform future Requests for Applications (RFAs) that will solicit grant applications from potential SSCCs to provide these services in Regions 9 and 10. Respondents are asked to provide feedback on challenges, barriers, and potential solutions for implementing CBC in these rural areas, with responses due by September 3, 2024. DFPS states it will not award a contract as a direct result of this RFI, but may use the feedback to inform future procurements and changes to the CBC program.

The RFI notes that DFPS has not received any responses for Region 10 in prior RFAs for CBC expansion, and no responses were received for Region 9 in a previous solicitation. The agency is seeking to better understand the resource gaps and infrastructure challenges that may be hindering interest from potential contractors in those rural areas. Respondents are encouraged to provide input on a variety of topics, including redrawing regional boundaries, the feasibility of an unsolicited proposal process, and changes to the current CBC model that could make it work better in Regions 9 and 10. There are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond, and DFPS has not listed any incumbent vendors or current contractors.