Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Protocol

The Orange County Health Care Agency is soliciting applications from licensed hospital emergency departments to develop Rapid Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) protocols, with applications due July 7, 2026 and a question deadline of June 26, 2026. The scope is protocol development and implementation planning, not direct clinical service delivery — a distinction that filters who can pursue this opportunity.

Eligible applicants must be licensed hospital emergency departments with a physical location in Orange County, California and on-site HIV testing capability. Applicants must verify they are not listed on the OIG Cumulative Sanction List, GSA excluded parties list, or California Medi-Cal Suspended and Ineligible Provider List. Minimum staffing must include at least one healthcare professional with HIV clinical services and counseling experience; the County recommends including one social work or case management professional. Applicants must maintain comprehensive insurance including Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Automobile Liability ($1 million combined), Workers' Compensation (statutory), Employers Liability ($1 million per occurrence), Network Security & Privacy Liability ($1 million per occurrence), and Professional Liability ($1 million per claims made).

The contract deliverables are a draft Rapid ART protocol (due 90 days after contract execution), an implementation plan (120 days), an evaluation plan (150 days), and a final HCA-approved protocol (180 days). The goal is to establish feasible workflows enabling ART initiation within seven calendar days of diagnosis or disclosure. Selected applicants will design patient-centered procedures integrating into existing clinical operations.

The total contract value cannot exceed $150,000, with payment structured per deliverable on a negotiated basis. Contract performance runs from August 10, 2026, through February 28, 2027. Funding derives from HRSA Ending the HIV Epidemic federal funds. An optional deliverable permits the purchase of Rapid ART medication starter packs pending funding availability. The contract term may be renewed at the County's discretion contingent upon available funding, contractor performance, and County policies.