Increasing Access to Perimenopausal, Menopausal, and Postmenopausal Health Care Services Through Community Health Workers

The Maryland Department of Health, Office of Population Health Improvement, is soliciting proposals under RFP BPM059560 for an evaluation and action plan to increase access to perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal health care services through community health workers, with proposals due November 19, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST via eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA). This is a Small Business Reserve procurement limited to businesses certified by the Governor's Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs (GOSBA), with minority business enterprises encouraged to respond. The solicitation runs under COMAR 21.05.07 Small Procurement Regulations.

Required qualifications include a minimum of two years of prior experience working with community health workers, evidence of expertise in perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal health care services in Maryland, at least two reference letters dated within twelve months of the proposal due date, and technological capability for virtual stakeholder meetings. The scope covers stakeholder engagement, baseline landscape analysis and needs assessment, workforce and training gap analysis, evaluation of navigation and system barriers, and an action plan addressing CHW competencies, outreach, clinical integration, and funding sustainability. Deliverables include multiple report drafts, a final report compliant with Maryland General Assembly submission guidelines, and presentations to the State Community Health Worker Advisory Committee in February, May, and August 2027.

The project is funded entirely by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through grant CDC-OE22-2203, a Public Health Infrastructure Grant, with no local match required. The projected contract term runs from January 11, 2027, through August 31, 2027.

Proposals must be submitted in two separate volumes. The technical proposal covers the statement of work, work plan, corporate and staff qualifications, W-9, Maryland Certificate of Status, and ADA compliance acknowledgment. The financial proposal includes a detailed budget narrative by line item. Award goes to the offeror submitting the Most Advantageous Offer, based on a weighted evaluation that favors technical factors over financial considerations.