Senior volunteer services

The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is conducting an emergency procurement for senior volunteer services administered under four federally-authorized AmeriCorps Seniors programs — Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Care Companion Program, and RSVP — covering July 1 through August 31, 2026, with proposals due August 1, 2026.

This is a sole-source emergency procurement limited to 60 days. The scope encompasses meaningful volunteer opportunities for individuals aged 55 and older with low incomes serving vulnerable populations including children with special needs, isolated older adults with functional limitations, and facility residents. Services are administered by seven existing contractors across designated counties in New Mexico, each with specific volunteer service year and service hour targets. Volunteer stipends are set at $4.00 per hour for Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and Care Companion participants.

The total emergency allocation is $176,861.85 distributed among seven contractors, with individual allocations ranging from $13,242.53 to $43,000.00. Named contractors include Chaves County Joy Center, Community Services Center, Citizens for Developmentally Disabled, Deming/Luna County Commission on Aging, Sierra Joint Office on Aging, and Southeast NM Community Action Corp. All contractors must be designated as official AmeriCorps Seniors programs and comply with federal and state regulations, maintain volunteer service records, and submit monthly invoices with supporting documentation.

The emergency procurement is necessitated by risk of losing federal matching funds and disrupting services if programs remain unfunded during the interim period. ALTSD anticipates concurrent sole-source awards effective September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The department plans to prevent future emergency procurements by initiating the sole-source award process in April rather than May, allowing additional time for contract review and execution prior to the July 1 fiscal year start date.