HHS0017288 Child Safety Seat (car seats)

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) issued Invitation for Bids (IFB) HHS0017288 on May 4, 2026, seeking competitive bids to establish contracts for Evenflo-brand infant passenger car seats distributed through the Safe Riders program, which provides child safety education and car seat distribution to low-income families across 70 distribution sites in Texas. The procurement is jointly administered by HHSC and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), with funding provided through a Texas Department of Transportation grant. The solicitation requires four specific Evenflo car seat models with designated part numbers: Titan/SureRide 65 Convertible (1,200 units), Tribute 5 Convertible (506 units), SecureKid Booster (580 units), and GoTime High Back Booster (398 units), totaling 2,684 seats to be shipped to a single facility. All items must be Evenflo brand with designated part numbers only; no substitutions are permitted without prior written approval from HHSC. Pricing must be firm and fixed for the contract life, submitted only on the required Exhibit C Pricing Sheet, and include all labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and related expenses. Evaluation criteria focus on bidder compliance with specifications, ability to meet delivery requirements, and price, with HHSC retaining the discretion to select the bid offering best value rather than the lowest-priced response. The questions deadline was May 7, 2026, with responses to clarifications posted May 12, 2026, and bid responses due by May 18, 2026 at 10:30 AM Central Time. The anticipated contract start date is June 1, 2026, with an initial contract term ending August 31, 2026. All deliveries must occur between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM on specified dates, excluding 11:00 AM to Noon, with the vendor responsible for all delivery charges and late delivery penalties.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged or historically underutilized business (HUB) enterprises are mandated; however, HUB Subcontracting Plans are encouraged but not required. The solicitation does not identify incumbent vendors or current contractors. Bidders must submit Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations completed and signed) and Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet completed) as mandatory requirements, with failure to submit these documents resulting in disqualification. Respondents must certify compliance with comprehensive certification requirements, including financial participation eligibility, suspension and debarment status, human trafficking compliance, franchise tax status, and E-Verify utilization for services contracts, along with prohibitions on lobbying, child support delinquency, and involvement with designated foreign adversaries. Bidders may submit responses electronically via the HHS Online Bid Room through the IAMOnline portal at https://iamonline.hhs.state.tx.us/ or through alternative submission methods identified in the complete solicitation package. Historical spending for similar goods ranges from $205,050 to $450,000 for fiscal year 2025, provided as a guideline only and not representing guaranteed volumes. The contract is subject to appropriations and availability of funds, with no guarantee of volume or compensation, and price adjustments may be permitted during the contract term based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) formulas published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, but only at HHSC's sole discretion.