Trainer for WIC Breastfeeding Management and Lactation Principles

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive training services for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program, specifically focused on breastfeeding management and lactation principles. The selected contractor will be responsible for developing and delivering up to twelve in-person and/or virtual training courses annually, covering topics such as breastfeeding management, lactation principles, prenatal and postpartum care, and infant/child nutrition. Minimum qualifications for the contractor include holding a current International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification and possessing an advanced medical degree or related doctorate/master's degree in nutrition, public health, or a similar field. The evaluation criteria will assess the contractor's capabilities across multiple dimensions, including breastfeeding and lactation management research and content development (30%), lactation management clinical experience (15%), trainer experience (15%), and cost (40%). The RFP was released on November 15, 2024, with a pre-proposal conference held on November 21, 2024, and proposals are due on December 18, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Central Time. The initial contract term is one year, with the potential for up to four additional one-year renewals at HHSC's discretion.

The solicitation requires the submission of a HUB Subcontracting Plan and successful completion of security and privacy inquiries, indicating a potential preference for diverse vendor participation. No specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned in the documentation, and no incumbent vendor is identified. HHSC will handle participant recruitment, registration, and administrative support, while the contractor will be responsible for developing and delivering training content, including the ability to create new continuing education unit (CEU) curricula upon request. Historical compensation for similar contracts has ranged from $20,000 to $30,000 per fiscal year, though no definitive contract value is specified in the current solicitation. The contractor must demonstrate the capability to access the latest research and resources in breastfeeding and maintain the flexibility to adapt training materials to emerging trends and needs in lactation management. The HHSC will provide oversight and administrative support, ensuring that the selected contractor can effectively contribute to the WIC program's educational objectives and improve breastfeeding support and nutrition education.