Statewide Syringe Services Program

The Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH) is seeking a comprehensive provider for a Statewide Syringe Services Program through a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued on October 3, 2025, with proposals due on December 8, 2025, at 1:00 PM EDT. The procurement aims to implement harm reduction services for people who use drugs (PWUD) and injection drug users (IDU) across Delaware, with the primary objective of reducing HIV and blood-borne infection transmission. Required services include targeted outreach, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, social media health communication, PrEP screening, and rapid drug testing across all Delaware counties (Wilmington, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex). Vendors must have a minimum of five years of public health or behavioral health services experience, with at least two years specifically serving PWUD and/or IDUs. Evaluation criteria will assess vendor qualifications, staff experience, geographical service capability, references, client transportation abilities, and visit verification systems. Successful bidders must implement services within 30 days of contract award and comply with all federal and state regulations, with a strong emphasis on culturally competent service delivery.

The contract term is three years with two optional one-year extensions, with an anticipated contract award date of January 5, 2026. The total contract value will not exceed $1,000,000.00, with payment processed through Automated Clearing House (ACH), Purchase Card (P-Card), or check. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the RFP suggests a preference for vendors with demonstrated experience in harm reduction and public health services targeting vulnerable populations. The procurement aligns with Delaware's Integrated HIV Prevention & Care Plan and requires vendors to develop comprehensive reporting mechanisms. Proposing organizations should be prepared to integrate their services with existing public health infrastructure and demonstrate a robust understanding of harm reduction strategies. Bidders will need to show capability in serving diverse geographic regions of Delaware and providing culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions for individuals at high risk of blood-borne infections.