RFP - homebound vaccine services

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Homebound Vaccine Services across the state's 45 counties, with a specific focus on Richland County. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccination services to homebound individuals who cannot access traditional vaccination sites. Vendors may bid on one or more of four DHEC regions: Lowcountry, Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate, with awards to be made to the lowest priced responsive and responsible offeror for each region. Required qualifications include compliance with CDC's 2021 Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit guidelines, ability to administer vaccines in-home, and capability to report services using DHEC-approved methods at least weekly. The solicitation indicates that South Carolina has more than 11,000 homebound persons requiring vaccination services. Key deadlines include the proposal submission deadline of September 28, 2021, at 2:30 PM ET, with an anticipated contract award date of October 5, 2021. An evaluation panel meeting was scheduled for October 4, 2021, at 2:30 PM ET in Columbia to review and score proposals.

While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned in the documents, the procurement appears open to various healthcare service providers with demonstrated experience in immunization administration. Vendors must submit comprehensive cost proposals covering labor, equipment, transportation, and administrative expenses associated with delivering homebound vaccine services. Contractors are permitted to bill individual insurance for flu vaccine administration fees but are prohibited from billing DHEC for flu vaccine supplies or administrative fees. DHEC will identify homebound individuals and notify vendors of service requests, and will provide a limited number of flu vaccines or other pharmaceutical mitigation measures for program use. The solicitation includes an appendix (Appendix A) providing a county-by-county listing of known homebound individuals aged 60 or older to assist vendors in estimating qualifying populations in their respective regions. While specific contract award values were not detailed, the scope suggests a significant statewide initiative with potential for substantial funding from state appropriations or federal vaccine distribution programs.