HRSA Service Area Competition (SAC) Application Support

The County of San Mateo, specifically San Mateo Medical Center (SMMC), is soliciting proposals through Request for Proposals No. 66000-2526-239 for professional services to support the development and submission of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Service Area Competition (SAC) application. The procurement encompasses comprehensive application support services including HRSA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) review, project management and timeline tracking, narrative drafting and editing, data analysis and integration, budget narrative review, quality assurance for compliance with HRSA Health Center Program requirements, and final packaging and submission support. The anticipated SAC application deadline is July-August 2026, and the selected vendor will provide services under a two-year agreement with no renewal options specified. Vendors must demonstrate direct experience leading or co-leading at least two successful HRSA SAC applications within the past five years, possess at least three years of Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) support experience, and maintain a documented history of securing competitive federal health funding. Proposals will be evaluated based on project approach (30 points), firm qualifications (25 points), team qualifications (20 points), and price (25 points), with an additional 5-10 points available for local business or non-profit preferences depending on certification status. The deadline for submission of questions and comments is March 6, 2026, at 1:00 pm, with responses provided by March 13, 2026, at 11:55 pm. Proposals are due by March 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm, and no pre-proposal conference or site visit will be held.

The County of San Mateo includes procurement preference provisions for local businesses and local non-profits under its Procurement Preference for Local Businesses and Local Non-Profits Ordinance, which may provide qualified organizations with up to 5-10 additional evaluation points. Vendors must be legally authorized to do business in California, registered with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), and maintain general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation insurance as required by the State of California. All contract deliverables and work products, including publications, reports, manuals, specifications, and computer programs, become exclusive property of the County of San Mateo upon creation. The RFP does not identify an incumbent vendor or specify an award value or budget range. Contractors must comply with comprehensive compliance requirements including the County's Corporate Compliance Code of Conduct, HIPAA Business Associate Agreement provisions, Living Wage Ordinance requirements (with rates escalating to $17.00 per hour by July 1, 2019, and thereafter tied to Consumer Price Index increases), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, fingerprinting certification for any employees with child contact, Vendor/Contractor Access Policy requirements, and intellectual property assignment provisions.