Request for qualifications (RFQ) for respite

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is issued by the South Texas Development Council's Aging & Disability Resource Center (STARDC) in partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to procure respite services for the four-county STARDC service area. The procurement seeks a single qualified service provider to deliver short-term, temporary relief services to informal, unpaid caregivers of individuals with disabilities of any age and individuals under age 60, with the primary objectives of preventing caregiver burnout, reducing stress, preventing family disruption, and enhancing family relationships. Qualified applicants must maintain current DUNS registration, register with the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), obtain any required state licenses, and certify compliance with federal and state regulations including debarment, suspension, and conflict of interest provisions. Providers must establish comprehensive staff qualifications and training requirements, maintain fiscal records in accordance with standard accounting practices, permit site visits by STARDC and HHS Commission staff, and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local guidelines addressing confidentiality, equal employment opportunity, drug-free workplace requirements, and participant grievance procedures. The RFQ was published on March 10, 2026, with qualifications due by 5:00 PM on April 1, 2026, and provider selection scheduled for April 13, 2026. Respondents must submit one original and two copies of their proposal by mail or hand delivery to the STARDC office in Laredo, Texas. The service agreement will be effective from May 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026.

Payment will be made on a negotiated unit-of-service basis rather than through cost or line-item reimbursement, with invoices submitted within 30 days following service conclusion and payment made within 45 days of invoice receipt. The RFQ document does not specify any set-aside designations, restrictions on organization types, disadvantaged enterprise requirements, incumbent vendors, or specific award values or budget ranges. STARDC reserves the right to award the agreement to a single bidder, multiple bidders, or reject all proposals entirely, and retains the right to negotiate services and costs with selected providers. Final service agreement terms remain subject to applicable funding rules and regulations. Organizations interested in responding should note that the compressed timeline between the April 1, 2026 deadline and the May 1, 2026 service start date allows minimal time for contract finalization and mobilization.