DHS Older Americans Act Dietician Consultant

The South Dakota Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS), is seeking a Dietician Consultant for the Adult Nutrition Program through Request for Proposal (RFP #25RFP12137), specifically targeting Harding County and other service areas statewide. The selected consultant will provide comprehensive nutrition services for older South Dakotans, including menu and dietary guidance, nutrition education, and informational materials. Key deliverables include reviewing menus for 14 current contracted providers, developing monthly nutrition education materials, and providing malnutrition counseling to high-risk consumers. The consultant will be required to work approximately 50 hours per month, maintaining data for federal reporting and ensuring proposed menus meet dietary guidance standards. Proposal submission requires an original and three physical copies, plus an electronic copy in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Critical dates include proposal due date of February 18, 2025, with potential oral presentations scheduled for March 7, 2025, and an anticipated contract award and negotiation date of April 1, 2025. Evaluation criteria will focus on specialized expertise, resources, past performance, availability, project locale familiarity, project management techniques, and ability to handle special project constraints.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, indicating the opportunity is open to qualified dietician consultants regardless of business size or classification. The position is open to out-of-state candidates, with services anticipated to be performed remotely with minimal travel requirements. While a specific budget range is not explicitly stated, the proposal requires offerors to submit hourly wage rate proposals, and travel expenses will be reimbursed at state rates upon submission of appropriate vouchers. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability, professional liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation insurance meeting state standards. The contract term is three years with an option to renew for an additional two years. The current incumbent averaged 40 hours of work per month, suggesting potential consistency in workload and expectations. Notably, there is no non-compete clause unless an existing relationship with contracted adult nutrition providers exists, and only one award will be made for this consulting opportunity.