Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for Corpus Christi State Supported Living Center

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB HHS0016932A) for Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) services at the Corpus Christi State Supported Living Center. The procurement seeks to establish as-needed contracts for on-site COMS services to visually impaired, blind, and deaf-blind residents, with required deliverables including pre-cane training, mobility assessments, sighted guide techniques, and direct services performed Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time, with scheduled visits to residents four times per month and four-hour response time for service calls. Qualified bidders must hold current COMS certification from ACVREP or NBPCB, possess a minimum of two years of relevant experience, and submit three verifiable references for similar services performed within the last two years. Mandatory submission documents include Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit B-1 (Security and Privacy Inquiry), Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet with firm and fixed hourly rates in US dollars), and Exhibit D (Bidder Reference Qualifications Form), with failure to submit any required documents resulting in disqualification. The evaluation will employ a best value standard considering the bidder's ability to meet requirements, performance delivery capability, and pricing. The questions and clarifications deadline was February 23, 2025, with bid responses due by March 4, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time; the contract will commence upon award and expire August 31, 2026, with an extension option of up to one additional year at the agency's discretion.

The solicitation documents do not identify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting response eligibility based on business type or size; however, all respondents must complete comprehensive HHS affirmations certifying compliance with debarment status, suspension status, child support obligations, human trafficking prohibitions, E-Verify requirements, cybersecurity training, conflict of interest disclosures, and various state and federal compliance certifications. Contractors will serve as independent contractors responsible for all labor, tools, transportation, equipment, materials, supplies, employee taxes, workers' compensation, background checks, and comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation (employer's liability of $1,000,000 per accident), commercial general liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 aggregate), commercial automobile liability ($1,000,000), professional liability ($1,000,000), and umbrella liability ($1,000,000). The solicitation documents do not identify any incumbent vendors or existing contractors being replaced by this procurement. No specific award value, budget range, or minimum guaranteed volume or usage is stated in the solicitation materials; pricing will be determined by firm and fixed hourly rates submitted by bidders, with price adjustments permitted only at HHSC's sole discretion and only if correlated with the Consumer Price Index as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, though contractors may offer price decreases at any time. Responses may be submitted via email to pcsbids@hhs.texas.gov, through the HHS Online Bid Room, or by hand delivery or overnight mail of a USB drive to the Procurement and Contracting Services Building in Austin.