HHS0017682

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is requesting bids for on-site unarmed uniformed security guard services at the Rio Grande State Supported Living Center in Harlingen, Texas, with proposals due August 28, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. Questions are due August 14, 2026, with HHSC posting responses on August 19.

The scope covers 24/7 security operations including regular patrols, emergency response, facility protection, and client/staff safety at a state-supported living center serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The contractor must furnish all labor, equipment, materials, and supplies, specifically including a Morse Watchman management system and two battery-operated golf/utility vehicles for campus patrol. Security personnel must maintain a three-minute maximum response time to facility calls and deploy additional guards within two hours of request. All security guards must be licensed security officers in Texas, fluent in English and Spanish, hold CPR and AED certifications, possess a high school diploma or GED, be U.S. citizens or legal residents with no felony convictions or dismissals for cause, and be at least 21 years old.

Minimum qualifications require the bidder to demonstrate five years of relevant security experience, with assigned personnel having at least two years of experience and individual guards possessing a minimum of six months of field security experience in psychiatric or developmental disability settings. Bidders must submit three verifiable references for similar contracts within the last three years.

The initial contract term runs September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027, with HHSC retaining the option to renew for up to three additional one-year periods through August 31, 2030, plus one optional one-year extension. Both HHSC and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) are entitled to use any resulting contract. The historical spend for the same or similar services was $156,287.04 for the prior 12-month period, provided as a guideline only. Pricing must be submitted as firm, fixed hourly rates on Exhibit C covering all labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and related expenses with no separate billing for per diem, travel, or incidental costs. Price adjustments are permitted only at HHSC's sole discretion.

Contractor insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation ($1,000,000 per occurrence), Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Commercial Automobile Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Professional Liability ($1,000,000), and Umbrella Liability ($1,000,000). Comprehensive background checks conducted at contractor expense are required prior to personnel working on state property.