Public Health Workforce Director and Grants Program Specialist

The South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) has issued Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-0901001-009 for a comprehensive public health workforce development initiative targeting infrastructure funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The procurement seeks to simultaneously fill two full-time positions: a Workforce Director and a Grants Program Specialist, with vendors required to respond to both roles in an all-or-nothing proposal. The Workforce Director will engage staff, partners, and stakeholders to explore public health workforce pipeline incentives, collaborate with colleges and universities, and develop training programs for new and existing staff. The Grants Program Specialist will be responsible for evaluation, performance measures, and departmentwide grant management support, including grant writing, reporting, and contract management. The proposal is due by December 16, 2022, at 1:00 PM CT, with an anticipated award decision on January 6, 2023. Vendors may submit written or email inquiries to Mariah Pokorny at Mariah.Pokorny@state.sd.us, referencing the RFP number in the subject line, with a strict deadline for questions prior to the proposal submission date.

The RFP does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, offering flexibility for vendors to propose the two positions as equivalent to 2.0 FTE potentially consisting of multiple staff members, provided that qualifications and justifications are appropriately documented. While no specific incumbent vendors are identified, the DOH emphasizes a commitment to providing resources to local jurisdictions, particularly those with health disparities. The RFP indicates that the total contract amount will not exceed a to-be-determined amount, with an initial one-year contract term and potential for up to four one-year extensions at the department's discretion. Pricing will be evaluated independently, and vendors must demonstrate comprehensive capabilities to fulfill both the Workforce Director and Grants Program Specialist roles. The procurement is specifically focused on Harding County and aligns with broader state-level public health infrastructure, workforce development, and data modernization strategies supported by CDC funding.